Ngwenyama

Ingwenyama means "Lion" in Swazi but in an honorific sense (akin to Arabic equivalent word, sayyid), as opposed to libhubesi, used to refer to lions in the literal sense. The title is sometimes written Ingwenyama, iNgwenyama, or ingweinyama, with the prefix i- (plural ti-, tiNgweniyama), meaning "the king".

The iNgweinyama owns all minerals in Eswatini except for those owned by private corporations. The other aspects of mining are also controlled by the iNgwenyama.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xapTAAAAMAAJ&q=Ngwenyama|title=Information Circular|date=1925|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=Ely|first=Northcutt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqWdlf7dWUYC&dq=Ngwenyama&pg=PA175|title=Summary of Mining and Petroleum Laws of the World: Africa|date=1970|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Mines|language=en}}

The iNgwenyama can appoint 20 (out of a maximum of 31) senators in the Senate of Eswatini and 10 (out of a maximum of 76) members of the House of Assembly of Eswatini.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Swaziland: Constitution and Politics|url=https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/swaziland/constitution-politics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602213525/http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/swaziland/constitution-politics|archive-date=2 June 2018|access-date=|website=The Commonwealth|url-status=dead}}{{Cite book|last=Publications|first=Europa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jj4J-AXGDaQC&q=King+of+Swaziland|title=Africa South of the Sahara 2004|date=2003|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-1-85743-183-4|language=en}} The iNgwenyama is also the head of the judicial system and the Chairman of the Swazi National Council.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8MYkAQAAIAAJ&q=Ingwenyama|title=A Comparative Study of National Integrity Systems in 5 Southern African Countries|date=2007|publisher=Transparency International Zimbabwe|isbn=978-0-7974-3508-7|language=en}} Local officials that are responsible for the governance of Eswatini are either appointed by the iNgwenyama, or their superiors are.{{Cite book|last=Kuper|first=Hilda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YRBqDwAAQBAJ&q=King+of+Eswatini|title=An African Aristocracy: Rank Among the Swazi|date=2018-08-16|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-429-99796-9|language=en}}

Other powers of the iNgwenyama include allocating land, initiating national gatherings, disbursing wealth, organizing social events, and taking part in rituals. The iNgwenyama has royal praise singers called griots. The griots appear at public events and sing about the virtues of the Ngwenyama. Any offence against the Ngwenyama or Ndlovukati or their property is considered a heinous crime. It is illegal to wear the ruler's clothes, use their medicines, or be within a certain distance of them. Adultery with the Ndlovukati is treason, and the Ngwenyama can exile any citizen for any reason.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

During the Incwala, the Ngwenyama splits the sacred water to the east and west to signal the end of the last year. On the second day of the Incwala, youths gather special branches and place them in a special sanctuary. The Ngwenyama then sings with his subjects in the sanctuary, thus reaffirming their loyalty. Later the Ngwenyama lights a fire. The purpose of the festival is to secure the prosperity of the Kingdom of Eswatini.{{Cite book|last=Potholm|first=Christian P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7iXoDwAAQBAJ&q=Ngwenyama|title=Swaziland: The Dynamics of Political Modernization|date=2021-01-08|publisher=Univ of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-31731-4|language=en}} The Ngwenyama is also sometimes believed to be the cause of violent rain.{{Cite book|last=Marwick|first=Brian Allan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vRU9AAAAIAAJ&dq=Ingwenyama&pg=PA313|title=The Swazi|date=1966|publisher=CUP Archive|language=en}}

Sobhuza II played an important role in the modernization of Eswatini. In the past, the royalist Imbokodvo National Movement consistently won the vast majority of seats while political parties were legal, thus gaining total control over the government.{{Cite book|last=Dlamini|first=Hlengiwe Portia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Q-yDwAAQBAJ&q=Ngwenyama|title=A Constitutional History of the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland), 1960–1982|date=2019-09-25|publisher=Springer Nature|isbn=978-3-030-24777-5|language=en}} iNgwenyama Mswati III compromised the traditional tinkundla system, replacing parts of the system with modern Eswatini institutions.{{Cite book|last1=Rwelamila|first1=Pantaleo D.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PksIEAAAQBAJ&q=King|title=Improving the Performance of Construction Industries for Developing Countries: Programmes, Initiatives, Achievements and Challenges|last2=Abdul-Aziz|first2=Abdul-Rashid|date=2020-12-22|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-000-28865-0|language=en}}

The iNgwenyama is traditionally succeeded by one of his male sons. The heir is chosen based on the virtue of his mother.

• List of monarchs of Eswatini

{{reflist}}

{{Eswatini topics}}

{{Monarchies}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Swazi monarchy

Category:Politics of Eswatini

Category:Swazi words and phrases

Category:Titles of national or ethnic leadership