Swaziland king renames country 'the Kingdom of eSwatini'

Swaziland's King Mswati III. He has announced he is renaming the country as the Kingdom of eSwatini. FILE PHOTO

By  BBC

What you need to know:

  • The monarch announced the official change at Golden Jubilee celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence.
  • The king, known as Ngwenyama or "the lion", is known for his many wives and for his adherence to traditional dress.

Swaziland's King Mswati III has announced he is renaming the country as the Kingdom of eSwatini.

The monarch announced the official change at Golden Jubilee celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence.

The celebrations also marked the monarch's 50th birthday. The southern African nation is an absolute monarchy.

Also Read

The king, known as Ngwenyama or "the lion", is known for his many wives and for his adherence to traditional dress.

COMMONWEALTH

Swaziland is a Commonwealth member.

The announcement of the name change is said to have angered some in the country, who believe the king should focus more on the nation's sluggish economy.

The country is Africa's last absolute monarchy, and in recent years demonstrators have called for a shift to democracy.

The son of Sobhuza II, who reigned for 82 years, King Mswati III currently has 15 wives. According to official biographers, his father took 125 wives during his reign.

UNEXPECTED

While the official name change was unexpected, King Mswati III has been referring for years to Swaziland as the Kingdom of eSwatini.

This was the name the king used when he addressed the UN general assembly in 2017 and at the state opening of the country's parliament in 2014.

In the headlines