Sobhuza II of Swaziland
Sobhuza II (
July 22,
1899 â€"
August 21,
1982) was a
King of
Swaziland. He was the son of
Ngwane V.
His father died on
December 10,
1899, when Sobhuza was only a few months old, and his grandmother,
Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli, acted as regent until
December 22,
1921. His personal reign of over 60 years (the longest on record), saw Swaziland's independence from
Britain (
September 6,
1968). When the kingdom became independent, it was hoped that the existing tribal government could be modified into a
constitutional monarchy. This existed for some time, until
April 12,
1973, when he repealed the constitution and dissolved parliament, making himself absolute ruler.
King Sobhuza continued the tribal practice of keeping many wives. According to the Swaziland National Trust Commission, "King Sobhuza II married 70 wives, and had 210 children between 1920 and 1970 (i.e. three children per wife, on average)." Many are still alive today.
Swazi CultureHe died in
1982 and was succeeded by his young son
Mswati III, after a period of regency by
Queen Dzeliwe and
Queen Ntombi.
*
Politics of Swaziland
