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Zeqblog Blog of Friday, 27 June 2025
Source: Okine Isaac
The Kingdom of Eswatini, previously called Swaziland, follows a distinctive tradition where the king can take multiple wives. King Mswati III, the ruler of this southern African nation, has 15 wives and approximately 36 children.
His romantic and familial life fascinates people not just in Africa but across the globe. So, how are the king’s wives chosen?
The first two wives are picked by a royal council, and neither of their sons can inherit the throne. Tradition dictates that the first wife must come from the Matsebula clan, while the second must belong to the Motsa clan. After these two, the king may choose wives from any of Eswatini’s 17 founding clans.
Future kings are selected from among the later wives, but the king himself does not choose his successor. Instead, a council known as Liqoqo designates the “main wife,” who must also be from the Matsebula clan. The next king is then chosen from her sons, provided he is unmarried at the time of coronation. If he is too young, a regent rules until he comes of age.
Marrying women from different clans is encouraged to promote national unity, which is why King Mswati III has so many wives. A newly married queen is called Liphovela until she bears her first child, after which she becomes an official wife.
Of King Mswati III’s 15 wives, two have passed away, and two others divorced him. Eswatini is an absolute monarchy, meaning the king holds supreme power but may consult with parliament. Now 55, King Mswati III has ruled since April 1986.
