Lomawa Ndwandwe

Last updated
laNgolotsheni (Lomawa) Ndwandwe [1]
Ndlovukati of Swaziland
Tenure1925–1938 [2]
Predecessor Labotsibeni Mdluli [3]
Successor Nukwase Ndwandwe [4]
Bornc. 1860/1875
DiedSeptember 1938 [5]
Spouse Ngwenyama Bhunu
Issue Nkhotfotjeni
FatherChief Ngolotjeni Nxumalo [6]
MotherMsindvose Ndlela [6]

laNgolotsheni (Lomawa) Ndwandwe [1] (died September 1938) was the Ndlovukati (queen mother) of Swaziland, the wife of King Ngwane V, and the mother of King Sobhuza II. [7] [8]

Contents

Biography

Early life

Ndwandwe, of the Esikoteni branch of the Ndwandwe clan, [5] was born to Chief Ngolotjeni Nxumalo and Msindvose Ndlela. [9] She was the eldest of three sisters. [9] Her siblings included her full sister (and ultimately, co-wife) Nukwase Ndwandwe, who succeeded her as Ndlovukati, [10] and her brother Benjamin Nxumalo, who later provided counsel to Sobhuza II. [7] [8] [11]

As a descendant of La Zidze and as the daughter of a respected chief, Ndwandwe was selected by the council of elders as the main wife for Ngwane V. [1] [12]

Reign

Following the death of Ngwane V, Ndwandwe was selected from among his widows, by the council of elders, as the next Ndlovukati, and her infant son Nkhotfotjeni was named King Sobhuza II. [12]

As the Queen Mother, Ndwandwe was the guardian of Swazi rituals. [5]

Death

Ndwandwe died in September 1938. [5] In order to avoid weakening King Sobhuza II via association with death, the King was prevented by the council of elders from attending his mother's funeral. [13] Ndwandwe was buried with her church membership cards, at the insistence of her sister, Nukwase Ndwandwe. [13]

Religious views

Ndwandwe was not baptized, in deference to the wishes of Labotsibeni Mdluli. [14] Nevertheless, Ndwandwe became a recognised supporter of the Methodist church. [13] She was also sympathetic to a nearby Zionist Separatist church whose local leader espoused political views that overlapped strongly with her own. [13]

The question of which denomination Ndwandwe identified with was, in any case, not of significance to Sobhuza II, who was critical of divisions between sects. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eswatini</span> Country in Southern Africa

Eswatini, officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and also known by its former official name Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast. At no more than 200 km (120 mi) north to south and 130 km (81 mi) east to west, Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa; despite this, its climate and topography are diverse, ranging from a cool and mountainous highveld to a hot and dry lowveld.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Eswatini</span>

Eswatini is an absolute monarchy with constitutional provisions and Swazi law and Custom. The head of state is the king or Ngwenyama, currently King Mswati III, who ascended to the throne in 1986 after the death of his father King Sobhuza II in 1982 and a period of regency. According to the constitution of Eswatini, the king and Ingwenyama is a symbol of unity and the eternity of the Swazi nation. By tradition, the king reigns along with his mother or a ritual substitute, the Ndlovukati. The former was viewed as the administrative head of state and the latter as a spiritual and national head of state, with real power counterbalancing that of the king, but during the long reign of Sobhuza II the role of the Ndlovukati became more symbolic. The king appoints the prime minister from the legislature and also appoints a minority of legislators to both chambers of Libandla (parliament), with help from an advisory council. The king is allowed by the constitution to appoint some members to parliament for special interests. These special interests are citizens who might have been left out by the electorate during the course of elections or did not enter as candidates. This is done to balance views in parliament. Special interests could be people of gender, race, disability, business community, civic society, scholars, chiefs and so on. The Senate consists of 30 members, of which some are appointed by the king on recommendation of the advisory council and others elected by the lower house. The House of Assembly has 65 seats, of which 55 are occupied by elected representatives from the 55 constituencies around the country, and 10 are appointed by the king on recommendation of the advisory council. The attorney general is the ex-officio member. Elections are held every five years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Eswatini</span>

Artifacts indicating human activity dating back to the early Stone Age have been found in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The earliest known inhabitants of the region were Khoisan hunter-gatherers. Later, the population became predominantly Nguni during and after the great Bantu migrations. People speaking languages ancestral to the current Sotho and Nguni languages began settling no later than the 11th century. The country now derives its name from a later king named Mswati II. Mswati II was the greatest of the fighting kings of Eswatini, and he greatly extended the area of the country to twice its current size. The people of Eswatini largely belong to a number of clans that can be categorized as Emakhandzambili, Bemdzabu, and Emafikamuva, depending on when and how they settled in Eswatini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swazi people</span> Bantu ethnic group of Southern Africa

The Swazi or Swati are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, inhabiting Eswatini, a sovereign kingdom in Southern Africa, and South Africa's Mpumalanga province. EmaSwati are part of the Nguni-language speaking peoples whose origins can be traced through archaeology to East Africa where similar traditions, beliefs and cultural practices are found.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sobhuza II</span> King of Swaziland from 1899 to 1982

Sobhuza II,, was Ngwenyama (King) of Swaziland for 82 years and 254 days, the longest verifiable reign of any monarch in recorded history.

Ngwane V was the King of Swaziland from 1895 until his death on 10 December 1899. Ngwane was born the son of Mbandzeni and his mother was Labotsibeni Mdluli. He ascended to the throne after a short regency of Queen Mother Tibati Nkambule. He was only 16 years old when he became king. His royal capital was at Zombodze while the Queen Mother's residence was at Lobamba. Ngwane became the king after the Swaziland convention of 1894. This had led to the classification of Swaziland as a protected state of the South African Republic which was then led by President Paul Kruger. During this time Swaziland had a partial Dutch administration in parallel to Ngwane's administration. The Dutch or European for European interests and Ngwane as head and authority of the Swazi nation. An annual payment was made to Ngwane and Labotsibeni while they were in office from taxes collected and from contributions from concessionaires and taxes. Ngwane's rule was short. In 1899 the Anglo-Boer war began, and brought to an end the Dutch or Boer partial administration of Swaziland and hence gave way to independence. However Mahlokohla died on 10 December of that year while dancing incwala. This was hid from the nation until the ceremony was over. Ngwane was succeeded by his four-month-old son Nkhotfotjeni and his wife Lomawa Ndwandwe. His mother Labotsibeni who had been very influential during his reign continued as queen regent until Sobhuza was crowned in 1921. Ngwane's reign gave way to a stable territory surrounded by conflicting states. Today Mahlokohla is named for one of the main streets, Mahlokohla Street in Swaziland's capital Mbabane.

King Mswati II, also known as Mswati and Mavuso III, was the king of Eswatini between 1840 and 1868. He was also the eponym of Eswatini. Mswati is considered to be one of the greatest fighting kings of Eswatini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ntfombi of Eswatini</span> Queen Mother of Eswatini since 1986

Ntfombi has been Queen Mother of Eswatini since 1986. She was also regent of Eswatini from 1983 to 1986. She is the mother of King Mswati III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ndlovukati</span> Title of the female monarch of Eswatini

Ndlovukati is the siSwati title for the female monarch of Eswatini. The title is given preferentially to the mother of the reigning king, or to another female royal of high status if the king's mother has died. The title is roughly equivalent to a queen mother, though she is jointly head of state, ruling alongside the Ngwenyama. The title can also mean doctor. When there is no king, the Ndlovukati rules as queen regent. The current Ndlovukati is Queen Ntfombi Tfwala, the mother of Ngwenyama Mswati III and wife of Sobhuza II. She was also queen regent from 1983 until 1986 when Mswati became king. The most notable queen regent was Ndlovukati Labotsibeni Mdluli who ruled Swaziland from 1899 until 1921 when she abdicated for Sobhuza II.

Sobhuza I (1788–1850) was king of Eswatini, from 1815 to 1850. Born around the year 1788, his father was King Ndvungunye, and his mother was Somnjalose Simelane. He was called Somhlolo, meaning "Mysterious man", upon his birth because his father, Ndvungunye, was struck by lightning. When Sobhuza was king, Lojiba Simelane, instead of his mother, Somnjalose was Queen Mother because Somnjalose was an inhlanti or support bride to Lojiba. Somhlolo is a greatly revered king of Eswatini. He had his first royal capital or kraal at Zombodze in the Shiselweni region, but moved it north to new Zombodze in central Eswatini. Swazis celebrate Somhlolo Day every September 6 as their Independence Day and the national stadium is named Somhlolo stadium. Sobhuza was succeeded by his son Mswati II and his wife Tsandzile Ndwandwe as Queen Mother after a short regency by Queen Lojiba Simelane. Sobhuza by the time of his death had conquered a country claimed to reach to modern day Barberton in the north, Carolina in the west, Pongola River in the south and Lubombo Mountains in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Dlamini</span> Reigning dynasty in Eswatini

The House of Dlamini is the royal house of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Mswati III, as king and Ngwenyama of Eswatini, is the current head of the house of Dlamini. Swazi kings up to the present day are referred to as Ingwenyama and they rule together with the Queen Mother who is called Indlovukati. The Swazi kings, like other Nguni nations, practice polygamy and thus have many wives and children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ngwenyama</span> Title of the king of Eswatini

iNgwenyama is the title of the male monarch of Eswatini. In English, the title is sometimes translated as King of Eswatini. The iNgwenyama reigns together with the Ndlovukazi, a spiritual leadership position held by the iNgwenyama's mother or another female royal of high status.

Hilda Beemer Kuper was a social anthropologist most notable for her extensive work on Swazi culture. She started studying the Swazi culture and associating with the Swaziland's royal family after she was awarded with a grant by the International African Institute of London. She studied and illustrated Swazi traditions embodied in the political vision of King Sobhuza II, who later became a close friend. King Sobhuza II personally awarded Kuper with Swazi citizenship in 1970.

Prince Sozisa Dlamini of Swaziland was Chief of Gundvwini. He became the Authorized Person of Swaziland from 1982 to 1985 after the death of King Sobhuza II, and in 1983 was briefly the acting Regent of the country, after he deposed Queen Dzeliwe. From 1983 he was Authorized Person to the new Queen Regent, Ntfombi, with greater powers. Although lacking the title, he was for most purposes the de facto ruler of the country. He fell from power in July 1984, after being accused of planning a coup, and was suspended as Authorized Person until Queen Ntfombi terminated his appointment on 1 November 1985.

Ndvungunye was King of Swaziland from 1780 until his death in 1815 after succeeding his father, King Ngwane III following a very brief regency of Ndlovukati LaYaka Ndwandwe. Very little has been recorded of the quality of leadership under his reign. Ndvungunye built his residence or Sigodlo near Mhlosheni on feet of the eMhlosheni hills in Shiselweni, the south east of modern Swaziland near Zombodze, where his father Ngwane had settled during his reign. His rule thus indicated a period of limited expansion and consolidation which is overshadowed by that of his son King Sobhuza I. The NShiselweni settlements established under his reign which he placed under the guardianship of his chief Sukumbili Mbokane would not however provide a solid foundation for the future Swazi state as indicated by attacks after his death on Sobhuza by Ndwandwe chiefs. Ndvungunye died around 1815 after being struck by lightning. Ndvungunye was married to Lojiba Simelane and Somnjalose Simelane. It was with the latter that he had his son Sobhuza I. Lojiba however became Queen mother as she was a senior sister to Somnjalose. Sobhuza I became the king in 1815 after the regency of Queen Lomvula Mndzebele.

Nukwase Ndwandwe was the Queen Mother of Swaziland, aunt of Sobhuza II, and the sister of Lomawa Ndwandwe.

Zihlathi Ndwandwe, also known as Zilathi Nxumalo, was Ndlovukati of Swaziland during the reign of Sobhuza II. She was succeeded by her full sister and co-wife, Seneleni Ndwandwe.

Seneleleni Ndwandwe, also known as Seneleni Nxumalo, was Ndlovukati of Swaziland during the reign of Sobhuza II. She was full sister and co-wife to her predecessor, Zihlathi Ndwandwe.

The following lists events that happened during 1978 in Eswatini.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kuper, Hilda (1965). An African Aristocracy: Rank Among the Swazi. Oxford University Press. p. 29.
  2. ↑ McDonagh, Eileen (2009). The Motherless State: Women's Political Leadership and American Democracy. University of Chicago Press. p. 250. ISBN   9780226514567.
  3. ↑ Siyinqaba (1984). "The Swazi Monarchy" (PDF). Africa Insight. 14 (1): 14–16.
  4. ↑ Hlophe, Stephen Shisizwe (1995). Irvine, Keith (ed.). The Encyclopaedia Africana Dictionary of African Biography. Vol. Three: South Africa- Botswana-Lesotho-Swaziland. Algonac, Michigan: Reference Publications Inc. Archived from the original on 2014-03-27.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Kuper, Hilda (1986). The Swazi: A South African Kingdom (2nd ed.). CBS College Publishing. pp. 142–143.
  6. 1 2 "Genealogy". Archived from the original on 2018-05-19. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  7. 1 2 "Observer". Observer. 2015-03-29. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  8. 1 2 "Ndwandwe, Nukwase, Swaziland, Methodist/ Roman Catholic". Sthweb.bu.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  9. 1 2 Radcliffe-Brown, A. R.; Forde, Daryll (3 June 2015). African Systems of Kinship and Marriage - A. R. Radcliffe-Brown, Daryll Forde - Google Books. ISBN   9781317406105 . Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  10. ↑ Kuper, Hilda (1986). The Swazi: A South African Kingdom (2nd ed.). CBS College Publishing. p. 33.
  11. ↑ "Nxumalo, Benjamin, Swaziland, African Methodist Episcopal". Dacb.org. 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  12. 1 2 Kuper, Hilda (1986). The Swazi: A South African Kingdom (2nd ed.). CBS College Publishing. p. 15.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Kuper, Hilda (1986). The Swazi: A South African Kingdom (2nd ed.). CBS College Publishing. pp. 70–71.
  14. ↑ Youé, C.; Stapleton, T. (2001-06-17). Agency and Action in Colonial Africa: Essays for John E. Flint - Google Books. ISBN   9780230288485 . Retrieved 2016-10-29.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.