Swaziland: A History

Map of Africa, showing the location of Swaziland (World Atlas - Swaziland; http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/sz.htm)

Swaziland is a small nation in southern Africa, surrounded on three sides by South Africa, and on the fourth by Mozambique.[1]  The country is only slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey.  The climate ranges from tropical to temperate with most of the land being mountainous and hilly, with smaller parts giving way to plains and river valleys.[2]

Map showing Swaziland's diverse geography (World Atlas - Swaziland; http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/sz.htm)

Malolotja National Park in Northwest Swaziland (http://www.traildino.com/trace/continents-Africa/countries-Swaziland)

In the early 17^th century a group from the Dlamini, under the rule of Ngwane III, migrated south along the Pongola River, to establish their own kingdom.  They originally settled along the southern most portion of the river, however the Zulu people were also settled in the area.  After several confrontations the Dlamini people moved northward over the Lubombo Mountains and finally settled.  During the reign of King Sobhuza I (1816-1836) and King Mswati II (1839-1865) the kingdom was expanded.[3]  Through peaceful absorption, in which case they were allowed to keep their local leaders and tradition, and at times forceful absorption,[4] the Nguni, Sotho, Tsonga became part of the new kingdom.  Under the rule of King Mswati II this combined people group became known as the Swazi.[5]  This expansion lead to a large growth in land holding, such that the kingdom under Mswati II was about twice as big as it is today, and stretched from the coastline of present day Mozambique as far inland as Zimbabwe.[6] 

Changes to Swaziland's Border compared to today (Swazi History; (http://www.sntc.org.sz/cultural/swazihistory1.html)

In the mid 1800’s the Swazi had their first encounter with outsiders as the Dutch Boers moved inland from South Africa and entered the Southern part of Swazi land.  The Boers sought out King Mswati and his council to try and gain land for settlement.  The king was willing to concede some farm and grazing land to the Boers.  There were two major concessions of land in 1846 and 1855, essentially giving the Boers control over most of Swazi territory.  However, there was controversy over whether the Swazi knew the extent of the land they had given away as it was outside the ability of the King at the time to have given away such vast amounts of land which included some of the royal family’s home.[7] 

King Sobhuza I, in 1839, heard from representatives at the Zulu court, that the son of a rival chieftain was being taught by missionaries at Mparani Mission station, near the Caledon River.  King Sobhuza then sent a delegation to ask the missionaries to come stay with him and teach his son, Mswati II.  Due to financial difficulties, the missionaries were unable to make the trip.  On his deathbed, Sobhuza instructed his son to follow his dream.  The dream, from before Sobhuza sent after the missionaries, was claimed to have been from the ancestral spirits showing strange men entering the land and that the people were to welcome them.[8]  After Mswati became king, he sent another delegation to the mission, and in1844 the Wesleyan Missionaries arrived.  The missionaries were welcomed by the people and were given a portion of land in the southern area of Swaziland where they could build a chapel and house.[9]

Mission Church, Oldest place of worship in Swaziland. (Mahamba Gorge, http://www.mahambagorgelodge.com/photo)

In 1894 the British and South African Republic, without inclusion of the Swazi people, made an agreement that made Swaziland a protectorate of the Boers.  The Boers then pushed inward on the Swazi land from the North and West.[10]  They also forced the Swazi into a cash economy to try and force workers into the gold mines, as well as other jobs under the Boers.[11]

In 1902, after the Boer Wars, during which the Swazi remained neutral, Britain gained control over Swaziland.[12]  Then in 1907, they took approximately 2/3 of the Swazi’s land to give to white settlers, leaving the Swazi with land that was unsuitable for agriculture or cattle raising.  King Sobhuza II tried to regain the land by going to court in Britain, but was unsuccessful.  He then created a Swazi trust in which taxes were used to buy back some of the land, which he then distributed back to the people.[13]

In 1968 Swaziland became and independent nation, however, the Swazi have only regained 2/3’s of their prior land holdings.  Today the Swazi are still trying to regain their prior land holdings; most of which is controlled by South Africa.  Today, more Swazi live outside of present day Swaziland than inside the borders.  The current king, Mswati III, is trying to regain some of this land, which if accomplished would reconnect Swaziland with the Indian Ocean as well as extending further East into South Africa.[14]

Swaziland view from the hills overlooking a river valley (http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/swaziland-guide)

Today Swaziland relies on natural resources for its economy, such as asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, some gold and diamond, quarry stone, talc.  While mining is only a small part of Swaziland’s economy today, Swaziland is home to the oldest know mine site in the world, the Lion Cavern, located at the Ngwenya Iron Mine northwest of Mbabane.  It is shown that the mine was used to collect hematite, specularite ochres for cosmetic and ritual centuries before the Swazi people arrived.[15]

Ngwenya Mine and Lion cavern, the oldest know mine in the world. (http://www.thekingdomofswaziland.com/pages/attractions/the_attraction.asp?AttractionsID=10)

Swaziland has several issues other than border disputes that the people have to deal with on a daily basis.  There are limited potable water supplies for most people, and wildlife populations are being depleted by excessive hunting.[16]  Swaziland also has the highest adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world.[17]

CHIPS (Children's HIV Intervention Program in Swaziland) Mobile Clinic Founded by Missionaries (Rehmeyers_In_Swaziland http://rehmeyers.blogspot.com) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjoNUawt9Po

(if it still isn't working the link will take you to the video) 

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[1] World Atlas, “Swaziland”; http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/sz.htm.

[2] CIA; World Fact Book, “Swaziland”; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wz.html.

[3] Swaziland: Origin and rise of the Swazi Kingdom (c1750 - 1868 CE); (http://www.content.eisa.org.za/old-page/swaziland-origin-and-rise-swazi-kingdom-c1750-1868-ce); Pr. 1

[4]Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience;  (http://books.google.com/books?id=TMZMAgAAQBAJ&pg=RA4-PA111&lpg=RA4-PA111&dq=boers+and+swazi&source=bl&ots=ghS-HbvPOo&sig=e1n_MspoclqdUCvHXQLGfGi3VpM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EgeCVLuRFcmfyAT2oILYBA&ved=0CEcQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=boers%20and%20swazi&f=false); pg. 111

[5] Macmillan, Hugh; The Creation of Tribalism in Southern Africa; 1989; Ch. 10, A Nation Divided? The Swazi in Swaziland and the Transvaal, 1865–1986; (http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft158004rs&chunk.id=d0e7328); pg. 290

[6] Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience; pg. 111

[7] The Kingdoms of Swaziland: Studies in Political History, (http://books.google.com/books?id=u3p9vATL1NkC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=swaziland%27s+first+contact+with+europe&source=bl&ots=9JHMfzjEmW&sig=bsMZBbsKtUodBpCqkfw26qkMmtU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Y_VvVJCLD4mrgwTAlIPYDA&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=swaziland's%20first%20contact%20with%20europe&f=false), (pg. 30-31)

[8] Nyawo, Sonene; The Early Encounter Between the Swazi and the Western Missionaries; (http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/4443/Nyawo_Sonene_2004.pdf?sequence=1); pg. 81-82

[9] Ibid; pg. 83

[10] Swaziland: Boer incursion and British meddling (1868-1907); (http://www.content.eisa.org.za/old-page/swaziland-boer-incursion-and-british-meddling-1868-1907); pr. 2

[11] Ibid, pr. 5-6

[12] Rose, Laurel; Swazi; Encyclopedia of World Cultures; 1996; (http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Swazi.aspx); (History and Cultural Relations)

[13] Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience; pg. 112

[14] Hall, James; Politics-South Africa: Swaziland Seeks Border Adjustment; Inter Press Service; (http://www.ipsnews.net/2005/01/politics-south-africa-swaziland-seeks-border-adjustment/) 

[15] Swaziland; Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations; 2007; (http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Swaziland.aspx); sec. Mining

[16] Swaziland; Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations; sec. Environment

[17] CIA; World Fact Book; Country Comparison :: Hiv/Aids - Adult Prevalence Rate (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2155rank.html) (table)

Land and Borders

In the late 17^th century a group of the Dlamini tribe, under rule of Ngwane III, migrated over the Lumbobo Mountains and settled in the area (1).  The kingdom was expanded during the reigns of King Sobhuza (1816-1836) and King Mswati II (1839-1865).  This was a result of many local tribes becoming more aggressive while protecting their land from people fleeing Portuguese colonies in the North and Boers from the South.  The Dlamini followed suit and expanded their kingdom.  The kingdom was about twice as big as it is today, and stretched from the coastline of present day Mozambique and as far inland as Zimbabwe(2).  This expansion absorbed several people groups from the area including the Nguni, Sotho, and Tsonga (3).  This absorption lead to a new ethnic group of the four people groups, which became known as the Swazi (4).

In 1846 King Mswati ceded part of the Swazi land in the West to the Boers in return for their help in rising conflicts both internal and external.  Shortly thereafter tension rose between the Boers and the Swazi and in 1855, in an effort to renew relations, King Mswati ceded more land from the South to the Boers (5).

In 1868 the South African Republic annexed the Swazi kingdom, however the Swazi regents rejected the claim, but this would still cause problems by the Boers.  In 1877 the British annexed the South African Republic (6).  The British upheld the land claims of the Boers to the land ceded in 1955, but did not uphold the annexation in 1968.  The Boers, however, pushed in on the Swazis from the west and north further reducing the Swazi land area, especially after finding gold (7).  King Mbandzeni, feeling overwhelmed, tried to stop the incursion by appealing to former British allies for help.  The advice given, accepted by the king, was a grave mistake, and in turn added to the loss of Swazi land (8).

In 1894 the British and South African Republic made an agreement that made Swaziland a protectorate of the Boers.  This was done without inclusion of the Swazi people.  The only rights that were given to the Swazi was that the King would essentially be a chief, and land that was being occupied by the Swazi would be kept by the Swazi, even if it was originally ceded.  These concessions lead to the forced change in the economy of the Swazi as they were forced to enter into a cash economy in order to get workers for the gold mines and other work for the Boers.  This led to bitterness towards the Boers which caused fear of potential resistance (9).

In 1902 Britain gained control over Swaziland after the Boer wars, then in 1907 they took approximately 2/3s of the Swazi’s land and gave it to white settlers leaving land for that Swazi that was unsuitable for agriculture or cattle.  King Sobhuza II went to court in Britain to try and regain the land, but was unsuccessful.  He then created a trust in which taxes, gained from the Swazi, were used to buy back some of the land which he then distributed to the Swazi people (10).  In 1968 Swaziland became an independent nation, however, the Swazi only control up to 2/3s of the prior land holdings (11).  The Swazi people are still trying to regain their prior land holdings; mostly going through South Africa which now has control of the land.  Many Swazi people also live in South Africa on land that was once part of Swaziland (12).

Changes to Swaziland's Border after King Mswati died compared to today (13)

1) Swaziland: Origin and rise of the Swazi Kingdom (c1750 - 1868 CE); (http://www.content.eisa.org.za/old-page/swaziland-origin-and-rise-swazi-kingdom-c1750-1868-ce); pr 1

2) Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience;  (http://books.google.com/books?id=TMZMAgAAQBAJ&pg=RA4-PA111&lpg=RA4-PA111&dq=boers+and+swazi&source=bl&ots=ghS-HbvPOo&sig=e1n_MspoclqdUCvHXQLGfGi3VpM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EgeCVLuRFcmfyAT2oILYBA&ved=0CEcQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=boers%20and%20swazi&f=false); pg. 111, pr 2

3) Swaziland: Origin and rise of the Swazi Kingdom (c1750 - 1868 CE); pr. 1

4) The Creation of Tribalism in Southern Africa; 1989; Ch. 10, A Nation Divided? The Swazi in Swaziland and the Transvaal, 1865–1986; (http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft158004rs&chunk.id=d0e7328); pg. 290

5) Swaziland: Origin and rise of the Swazi Kingdom (c1750 - 1868 CE); pr. 5

6) Swaziland: Boer incursion and British meddling (1868-1907); (http://www.content.eisa.org.za/old-page/swaziland-boer-incursion-and-british-meddling-1868-1907); pr. 1

7) Ibid; pr. 2

8) Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience; pg. 111, pr. 6

9) Swaziland: Boer incursion and British meddling (1868-1907); pr. 5 & 6

10) Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience; pg. 112, pr. 1-3

11) Swazi, History and Cultural Relations; (http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Swazi.aspx)

12) POLITICS-SOUTH AFRICA: Swaziland Seeks Border Adjustment; (http://www.ipsnews.net/2005/01/politics-south-africa-swaziland-seeks-border-adjustment/) 

13) Swazi History; (http://www.sntc.org.sz/cultural/swazihistory1.html)  

Missions in Swaziland

The first mission in Swaziland was established by the Methodist Wesleyans in 1844.  Unlike most other missionary encounters with African people groups, the missionaries were invited by King Sobhuza in 1939.  However they were unable to come right away and did not arrive until re-invited by King Mswati, the son (1).  When the missionaries first arrived in Swaziland, they were welcomed with a gift of an ox, which was a gesture of friendship from King Mswati.  The king accepted the Word of God and allowed the missionaries to spread the word through his kingdom.  However, he told the missionaries that they were not allowed to change the customs, culture or traditions of his people while spreading the word. (2) 

Mission Church, Oldest place of worship in Swaziland.(3)

One of the missionaries, Reverend J. Allison, built a school at Sankolweni, which is believed to be the first school in Swaziland.  Later, in 1912 the Methodists built a church near the Mahamba border, which is still there today, and is the oldest intact church in the country (4).

In a report of the years 1919-‘20, there were twelve different religious groups working in Swaziland.  Included Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Wesleyan Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, Independent Methodist, Full Gospel Mission of Norway, and several other groups.  Each of these different religious bodies helped spread education as well as their beliefs to the people around the nation (5).

Today missions, while still converting people to the Christian faith, are focused on health issues.  Swaziland has the highest adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world, with 26.5% of the adult population having been diagnosed (as of 2012) (6).  There is one group of missionaries who founded a program called CHIPS (Children's HIV Intervention Program in Swaziland) in 2008, and also founded Kudvumisa Trust and Foundation in Swaziland in the same year.  Daran Rehmeyer, started these programs to provide Christ centered intercessions to help with medical and economic issues that many people are suffering in Swaziland, especially dealing with HIV+ orphaned children. (7)

CHIPS Mobile Clinic (8)

1) The Early Encounter Between the Swazi and the Western Missionaries, {http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/4443/Nyawo_Sonene_2004.pdf?sequence=1}, (pg. 81-82)

2) Discover Swaziland, 2014, (http://www.swazibusiness.com/discovery/shiselweni.html), para 2
3) Mahamba Gorge, (http://www.mahambagorgelodge.com/photo)
4) Discover Swaziland, 2014, (http://www.swazibusiness.com/discovery/shiselweni.html), para 2

5) Swaziland Report for 1919-20 (http://libsysdigi.library.illinois.edu/ilharvest/Africana/Books2011-05/469190/469190_1919_1920/469190_1919_1920_opt.pdf), pg. 7

6) CIA, World Fact Book, (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2155rank.html) (table)

7) Rehmeyers_In_Swaziland (http://rehmeyers.blogspot.com), sec About Us
8) Ibid, CHIPS Expansion

Contact with the Outside

Changes to Swaziland's Border due to European Settlers (http://www.sntc.org.sz/cultural/swazihistory1.html)

Portuguese and Arabs set trade routes in Southern Africa beginning in the 16^th century, however they did not travel far inland.  This kept the Swazi from encountering “outsiders” until the 19^th century.

The first contact of Swazi people with the Europeans happened when the Dutch Boers moved inland and entered the southern part of Swazi territory.  This happened in the 1830’s, and in an attempt to seek accommodation with the local tribe, the Boers sought out Mswati (the king of the Swazi) and his council.  Mswati was willing to sell the Boers grazing and farming land.  There were two sales of land, the first in 1846 and the second in 1855, giving the Boers access to a portion of what is today Swaziland.(1)

Shortly after the Boers arrived in Swaziland, the Wesleyan missionaries set up a mission (1945) near modern day Mahamba. (2)  King Sobhuza, 1839, heard from the Zulus that another king in the area was conferring with missionaries.  He sent a representative to the mission to request someone be sent to his tribe.  When the missionary was unable to visit, King Sobhuza, on his deathbed, instructed his son to pursue the “dream”.  The dream was that Sobhuza saw men coming from the sea with money and a scroll, that his people needed to take the book not the money, and to welcome these people. (3) 

When the missionaries finally arrived in 1844, he was welcomed gladly by the Swazi people. They were given a portion of land and the locals were instructed by the king to help build the new chapel where many of the Swazi attended regularly. (4)

Political Map of South Africa 1885 {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Wars_(1879%E2%80%931915)}

Although Swaziland was surrounded by areas that was in constant conflict, Swaziland was able to  preserve its existence as independent, even as other native tribes fell to European control.  The Swazi signed treaties with the Transvaal and the British which promised their independence.  The Swazi had also helped the Europeans out by giving grazing rights and then mining rights to settlers.  They even assisted in the conflict with the Zulu and Pedi enemies of the British. (5)

In 1894 the Boers and the British gave control of Swaziland to the South African Boer Republic of Transvaal, as a protectorate. However, after the Boer War, in 1902, Britain took control of Swaziland as a protectorate.  After losing about one-third of the original Swazi territory, Swaziland became an independent nation in 1968. (6)

1) The Kingdoms of Swaziland: Studies in Political History, {http://books.google.com/books?id=u3p9vATL1NkC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=swaziland%27s+first+contact+with+europe&source=bl&ots=9JHMfzjEmW&sig=bsMZBbsKtUodBpCqkfw26qkMmtU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Y_VvVJCLD4mrgwTAlIPYDA&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=swaziland's%20first%20contact%20with%20europe&f=false}, (pg. 30)

2) Ibid, (pg. 30)

3) The Early Encounter Between the Swazi and the Western Missionaries, {http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/4443/Nyawo_Sonene_2004.pdf?sequence=1}, (pg. 81-82)

4) Ibid, (pg. 85)

5) South African Wars, {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Wars_(1879%E2%80%931915)}, (Swaziland section under Government and Politics)

6) Swazi, {http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Swazi.aspx}, (History and Cultural Relations)

Natural Resources

The biggest natural resources for Swaziland are asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, some gold and diamond, quarry stone, talc. 

 Mining has been a part of Swaziland’s history since people first settled the area.  Swaziland is home to the oldest know mine site, the Lion Cavern, located at the Ngwenya Iron Mine northwest of Mbabane.  It is shown that the mine was used to collect hematite, specularite ochres for cosmetic and ritual use.  The mine late became an Iron mine, but was shut down in 1977. (1)

Ngwenya Mine and Lion cavern, the oldest know mine in the world. (http://www.thekingdomofswaziland.com/pages/attractions/the_attraction.asp?AttractionsID=10)

Most of the mines in Swaziland have declined in production or shut down.  Asbestos mines, coal mines, and the few diamond mines have all closed down. 

Asbestos mining was once the dominant mining revenue, was located at the Bulembu Mine. (2)  The Bulembu Mine, originally named Havelock Mine, extracted and sold white asbestos between 1939 and 2001.(3)  

Diamond mining took place from one kimberlite pipe, a volcanic rock, at Dvokolwako, operated by both Swaziland and South Africa, and produced about 70,000 carats worth of diamonds by the shutdown in 1996. (4) 

Quarry stone, brick clay, anthracite coal, pyrophyllite (talc), sand and gravel are still being mined today, as well as small scale gold mining, which is unreported.  Forest resources are one of the largest resources in use in Swaziland, which is due in part to the 1,290,000 acres of forests. (5)  Most wood production goes to the Usutu pulp mill, which exports unbleached wood pulp. (6)

 Swaziland’s biggest external trade is with South Africa, using mostly land routes, due to the fact that Swaziland is almost entirely surrounded by South Africa.  Swaziland also trades with Europe, North America, and the Far East using the ports of Maputo in Mozambique and Durban in South Africa (7).  These ports are accessed by railways and roadways (8).  

 However, problems have occurred with this trade; due to geographic location, poor infrastructure in Swaziland, high cost from inefficiencies at the border crossing, administrative delays, and political instability of the neighboring countries (9)

Swaziland view from the hills overlooking a river valley (http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/swaziland-guide/

  

1) http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Swaziland.aspx  (Mining para 1)

2) Ibid (Mining para 1)

3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulembu

4)  http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Swaziland.aspx  (Mining para 2)

5) Ibid (Mining para 2) 

6) Ibid (Forestry)

7) http://www.lldc2conference.org/custom-content/uploads/2013/07/Swaziland-National-report.pdf (pg. 4)

8) Ibid (pg. 6)

9) Ibid (pg. 6-7)