Ndlovukati facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ndlovukati of Eswatini |
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Arms of Her Majesty the Ndlovukati of Eswatini
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| Incumbent | |
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| Ntfombi since 25 April 1986 |
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| Details | |
| Style | Her Majesty |
| First monarch | LaYaka Ndwandwe |
| Formation | 1745 |
| Residence | Ludzidzini Royal Village, Lobamba |
The Ndlovukati is a special title in Eswatini, a country in Southern Africa. It means "She-Elephant" in the siSwati language. This title is given to the female ruler of Eswatini.
Usually, the Ndlovukati is the mother of the reigning king. The king is called the Ngwenyama, which means "Lion of Swaziland". If the king's mother has passed away, another important royal woman can receive the title.
The Ndlovukati is like a queen mother. She shares the role of head of state with the Ngwenyama. This means they both lead the country. The title can also mean "doctor". When there is no king, the Ndlovukati rules the country as a queen regent.
The current Ndlovukati is Queen Ntfombi Tfwala. She is the mother of the current king, Mswati III. She was also a queen regent from 1983 to 1986. A very famous queen regent was Ndlovukati Labotsibeni Mdluli. She ruled Eswatini from 1899 until 1921.
Contents
What Does the Ndlovukati Do?
The Ndlovukati and the king traditionally rule Eswatini together. The king handles the daily running of the country. The Ndlovukati is seen as the spiritual leader. She also represents the nation.
The Ndlovukati has many important duties. She controls special rituals and knowledge. These are needed for the king to start his rule. She also helps with rainmaking ceremonies. She leads the annual incwala rites. These rituals help renew the strength of the nation and the king.
When a king passes away, the Ndlovukati becomes the queen regent. She leads the country until the new king is old enough to rule. Some other important Ndlovukati from history include Tsandzile Ndwandwe and Tibati Nkambule.
History of the Ndlovukati's Power
Throughout history, many Ndlovukati have held great power. They had a lot of influence, especially when they were queen regents. The Ndlovukati's power was seen as a way to balance the king's power. It also helped keep royal princes from becoming too powerful.
For example, during the time of Mswati II, Ndlovukati Tsandzile Ndwandwe was very influential. The Ndlovukati could not become king herself. This meant she offered a different kind of power. She could help control kings who might become too strong.
During the long rule of Sobhuza II (1899–1982), his grandmother, Ndlovukati Labotsibeni Mdluli, was very powerful. She was known as "Gwamile". She was the main political leader in Eswatini from 1899 until 1922.
Over time, the Ndlovukati's power became less strong. The British, who ruled the area for a while, preferred to recognize the king's power. Also, King Sobhuza II was a very strong leader. After he passed away, the Ndlovukati's role became even weaker. Today, the king, the Ngwenyama, holds much more power than the Ndlovukati.
Royal Villages
When there is both a king and a Ndlovukati, there are two royal villages. The king's village is where he does his official work. The Ndlovukati's village is called umphakatsi. This means "the inside". It is seen as the national capital. It is also the spiritual home of the nation.
The king lives at his own royal village, called lilawu. The current umphakatsi is at Ludzidzini Royal Kraal. The current lilawu is at Ngabezweni Royal Kraal.
List of Ndlovukati
- LaYaka Ndwandwe, 1745–1780 (Regent 1780)
- Lomvula Mndzebele, 1780–1815 (Regent 1815)
- Lojiba Simelane, 1815–1840 (Regent 1836–1840)
- Tsandzile Ndwandwe (LaZidze), 1840–1875 (Regent 1868–1875)
- Sisile Khumalo (Lamgangeni), 1875
- Tibati Nkambule (Madvolomafisha), 1875–1894 (Regent 1889–1894)
- Labotsibeni Mdluli (Gwamile, Lamvelase), 1894–1925 (Regent 1899–1921)
- Lomawa Ndwandwe, 1925–1938
- Nukwase Ndwandwe, 1938–1957
- Zihlathi Ndwandwe/Mkhatjwa, 1957–1975
- Seneleleni Ndwandwe, 1975–1980
- Dzeliwe Shongwe, 1982–1983 (Regent 1982–1983)
- Ntfombi Tfwala, 1986–present (Regent 1983–1986)
Images for kids
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The Queen Mother Standard of Ntfombi Tfwala.
See also
In Spanish: Indlovukazi para niños
