The Kingdom of Swaziland is one of the smallest countries in Africa, but one of the most interesting: the last traditional absolute African monarchy, but at the same time one of the most progressive, with a diversified economy; despite its small size, offering greatly different landscapes because of its three markedly different regions. The mountainous high veld, or high grassland, in the west, with an average height of about 1200 m above sea level; the middle veld, averaging 600 m with good soil and rainfall; further east the low veld, with its bush vegetation averaging about 300 m in elevation and, rising towards the border with Mozambique, the Lebombo mountain range. It is said that Swaziland has all landscapes in Africa, except desert and a seashore.

The majority of the people are the emaSwati or Swazi, belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu peoples and speaking siSwati, a language closely related to that of the Zulu, who live across the border to the south. Apart from those who live in Swaziland's few modern towns, most people still follow a traditional way of life. In the countryside men still wear the traditional "emahiya", a cloth draped over the right shoulder and under the left arm, and a loincloth on top of which is worn "emajobo", a loinskin; women may wear "sidvwaba", traditional skirts, and also brightly coloured cloths. Customary law is still strong; polygamy is common but only for those who can afford it: "lobolo", a bride price, must be paid to the bride's family. The yearly "uMhlanga" (Reed Dance) and "iNcwala" (First Fruits Ceremony) are extremely important and reaffirm the bond of the Swazi with their King.

The Swazi people are descended from a group of Bantu migrants, originally from east central africa who crossed the Limpopo river and settled in the south of Mozambique in the late fifteen century. At first, they consisted essentially of a number of small clans who had joined together under the leadership of a man called Dlamini; today, Dlamini is the Royal clan and the most common surname in the country. Under the leadership of their chief Ngwane they settled in the region of the Pongolo river absorbing Nguni and Sotho clans in the area. They crossed into the area of present-day Swaziland around 1750 and settled around Hluti, in the south under King Ngwane III ; "kaNgwane" is today the name most Swazis use for their country. In the 1840s, they were led by King Mswati I, and his name became the name of his people (emaSwati; “Swazi” is actually the Zulu form). They were in constant conflict with the numerically stronger Zulu people to their south; realising he could not defeat them, King Mswati sought protection from the British; although initially refused, the British government signed a convention recognising Swazi independence in 1881.

White settlers came into the country and land and mineral rights concessions were made over the heads of the Swazis in 1890. Under an agreement signed in 1894 by Britain and South Africa, the Swazi were handed over to Paul Kruger's South African Republic (Transvaal), against their wishes. After the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902, the British government placed Swaziland under its direct jurisdiction as a Protectorate In 1903. The Swazi king, who was then called Paramount Chief, and his council were permitted to exercise authority over Africans only. In 1907, it became a High Commission Territory in which Britain governed Swaziland through a resident commissioner, who in turn was responsible to the British high commissioner in South Africa. Only in 1964 the Swazi elected a legislative council and in 1967 a new constitution gave Swaziland internal self-rule, recognised King Sobhuza II as its king, and provided for a Parliament composed of a House of Assembly and a Senate. On 6 September 1968 Swaziland achieved its independence, with King Sobhuza II as head of state.

Swaziland was established as a Parliamentary democracy but were soon problems reconciling the traditional power of the King and the chiefs with that of a western system and an opposition party that was viewed by many traditionalists as obstructive and disrespectful. In 1973 the opposition was banned, a State of Emergency declared and King Sobhuza II ruled as in the old days, through the "libandla" Council of Chiefs. He was, however, universally respected and loved as could be seen in the many ceremonies in which he participated. The "Oldest and longest reigning monarch in the world" died in 1986 and was succeeded by one of his 210 sons, Prince Makhosetive (the name means "King of Nations") who took the title of Mswati III and, at 18 years of age, became the world's youngest monarch.

The country is, undoubtedly, still beautiful and its people still delightful. The photos on these pages show, however, the way I found it more than three decades ago, between 1970 and 1975. His Majesty King Sobhuza II reigned as the "Ngwenyama", "Lion", with his mother the "Ndlovukati" (She-Elephant"); after the death of his real mother the role was filled by one of his senior wives. This was before anybody had ever heard of HIV and AIDS; South Africa was still under the Apartheid regime and Mozambique a Portuguese colony; Swaziland was a beacon of freedom and racial harmony in Africa, a country of around 450 000 people (now well over a million), no television, only two bitumen roads, (between the South African border via Mbabane to Mpaka, 25 km east of Manzini and from Mhlambanyati via Bhunya and Luyengo to the main road) and one traffic light in the whole nation, in Mbabane. It was a wonderful place with wonderful people.