Independence Celebrations in Swaziland

Swaziland received its Independence from Britain on 6 September 1968 and this date has been celebrated in the Kingdom ever since. Each year there are ceremonies in the Somhlolo Stadium in Lobamba, the Royal capital - Somhlolo stand for Independence. This is an occasion when the nation comes together and foreign guests are invited to a spectacular ceremony that showcases Swaziland's unique traditional culture.

As His Majesty King Sobhuza II had, according to tradition, a great number of wives and as a consequence a very great number of children, the arrival of his immediate family took some time. The "emakhosikati" or King's wives would arrive through the tunnel underneath the stadium, each immaculately dressed in black "sidvwaba" skirt topped by a colourful "emahiya" printed cloth, their hair done up in "sicolo", the beehive hairstyle reserved for married women. The "bantfwabenkosi" or King's daughters would then arrive, the young, unmarried girls dressed in their "indlamu" bead skirts with "umcwasho" tassels and with red "ligwalagwala" feathers in their hair, a mark of Royalty. The "Ndlolovukati" (meaning She-Elephant) would then arrive: the Queen Mother, revered as ruling together with her son. King Sobhuza's real mother having died a long time ago, she was one of his former wives who fulfilled that role.

Then His Majesty, the "Ngwenyama" (meaning Lion), King Sobhuza II entered and delivered a speech to the Nation. Resplendent in full traditional dress, he would then join hundreds of warriors in their regiments and would, with members of his own Balondolozi Regiment, dance the ancient slow warrior dance, the "iNqaba kaNqofula". His sons would be among the regiments and his daughters and wives would dance opposite the men. He would then return and later would stand on a red dais, while the traditional regiments and the then youngest age group, the Gcina Regiment, more a scout group, would parade past the King. The ceremonies over, the King would leave in his gleaming black Cadillac, a gift from the United States Embassy.

The official ceremonies over, the festivities would continue with the "Sibhaca" dancing by various groups of men, vigourous stamp-dances, accompanied by singing and large drums.

	Emakhosikati enter	Bantfwabenkosi enter	Princesses in stadium	Ndlovukati
	The King's speech	Princesses return	King steps on dais	Parade past the King
	King Sobhuza II	Gcina Regiment	The King waiting	The King leaves

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