Mbilaneni

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Mbilaneni
TypeSwazi royal burial site
Location Shiselweni District, Eswatini
Nearest city Nhlangano
Governing bodyTraditional authorities
Owner Kingdom of Eswatini

Mbilaneni is a historical site in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), located approximately 8 kilometres south of the modern town of Nhlangano in the Shiselweni District. It is the royal burial grounds of the Swazi monarchy. [1]

The site is sometimes referred to in local oral histories as Mbilaneni I to distinguish it from other royal burial sites, such as Mlokotfwa Hill (Mbilaneni II), [2] where King Ndvungunye was interred after being struck by lightning in 1815 [3] and the Mdzimba Mountain where Prince Ludvonga II is resting. [4]

Significance

Mbilaneni is the burial place of several prominent Swazi kings, including Ngwane III, Sobhuza I, [5] Mswati II, Mbandzeni, Bhunu and Sobhuza II. [3]

Royal burials at Mbilaneni are conducted with strict traditional rules. Bodies are initially placed in caves before being moved to the hillside under cover of night. The Mdluli clan serves as the primary custodians of the Mbilaneni royal graves. Historically, the Mkhaliphi clan were earlier custodians but lost this role due to negligence during a fire.

In July 2021, Mbilaneni made news after King Mswati III’s ritual cows, a herd of 30, fled into the forest at night while the royal family was preparing for a royal ritual ceremony at the Mbilaneni, requiring the deployment of military personnel to swiftly recover them. [6]

References

  1. ↑ Zwinoira, R.T. (1984). Some toponyms and ethnonyms of Swaziland, in African ethnonyms and toponyms, Meeting of Experts on Ethnonyms and Toponyms, Paris, 1978, pp. 23–38, p. 24.
  2. ↑ Hamilton, Carolyn (1990). Carolyn Hamilton (ed.). In Pursuit of Swaziland's Precolonial Past. Kulandza Umlandvo: Swaziland Oral History Project (First ed.). Manzini, Swaziland: Macmillan Boleswa Publishers (Pty) Ltd. pp. 57 & 61. ISBN   0 333 4 7907 6.
  3. 1 2 Matsebula, J.S.M. (1988). History of Eswatini, Longman. 3rd edition .Page 12. ISBN   9780582031678
  4. ↑ Matsebula, J.S.M. (1988). Page 62
  5. ↑ Gillis D, Hugh. The Kingdom of Swaziland: Studies in Political History (PDF), Greenwood Press. Page 17. ISBN   0313306702
  6. ↑ Dlamini, Zweli Martin. King's Mbilaneni cows flee at night, Swaziland News, 23 July 2021
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