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34-572: The name Hhohho was the name of the royal capital of Mswati II , a 19th-century king of Eswatini. After the Anglo-Boer war , Eswatini came under British administration. A partition of the country into districts followed and Hhohho was the name chosen for the northernmost district. The region of Eswatini which is today Hhohho was inhabited in earlier times by the Khoisan people. Later, Bantu settlers of Nguni and Sotho origin established settlements in

68-629: A line of military outposts from west to east along the 'Little Crocodile River' ( Kaap River ). At each outpost he stationed some of his regiments to watch and stop the Abapedi returning to their old haunts. The posts were Mbhuleni, on the upper Komati River , at the foot of the Mkingomo Mountains, south of Badplaas , where Ngcina Matsebula was the indvuna, and LaMgangeni Khumalo the Nkhosikati (chieftainess), and at Mekemeke, just east of

102-560: A party being sent to the Ndwandwe capital and Tsandzile was chosen as the wife to bear the successor to Sobhuza. Mswati's early life after the death of Sobhuza was marked by disputes over the kingship with his brothers. As a result of this Mswati and his mother were installed in their positions before either of them was properly prepared. Such circumstances during his early life are sometimes considered to have predisposed him to be fierce and decisive later in his rule. When Mswati ascended to

136-655: A place renowned for its hiking trails. Hhohho is home to the royal capital of Eswatini at Lobamba. Here the main cultural events of the country are held. These are the Incwala ceremony and the Umhlanga ceremony. Hhohho is also home to art galleries such as the Indingilizi Gallery in Mbabane. Performance arts can be seen at the theater club, also in Mbabane. A campus of the national University of Eswatini

170-482: Is clear that he had a formidable army and Bryant calls him 'a veritable Shaka of the north' . The indvuna of Hhohho was Matsafeni Mdluli fourth, brother of Labotsibeni , who later became the mother of Ngwane V . Matsafeni moved to the Nelspruit area in 1888 and H. L. Hall named the station Mataffin, 5 km west of Nelspruit, after him. Malambule who was Mswati's half-brother, held the reins of government until

204-473: Is headed by an indvuna yenkhundla or governor with the help of bucopho . The tinkhundla are further divided into imiphakatsi (or chiefdoms). The present tinkhundla are: Hhohho is the most economically advanced region of Eswatini. Being home to the capital of the country, and hosting a significant fraction of the Manzini-Mbabane corridor, it has Eswatini's biggest urbanized population. The economy of

238-509: Is land in Eswatini which is under the rule of chiefs for settlement of Swazi people . It is vested in the King in trust of the nation. SNL communal land is typically used for pasture with livestock belonging to residents of a chiefdom freely roaming. Land for homesteads and small farms is allocated by chiefs, who also settle matters of land disputes. This Eswatini -related article

272-603: Is located in Mbabane, and specializes in health and environmental sciences. The Eswatini College of Technology (SCOT), is also located in Mbabane, and focuses on various technical trades. Recent tertiary institutions in the region are the Eswatini Christian University and a campus of Limkokwing University . 26°00′S 31°30′E  /  26.000°S 31.500°E  / -26.000; 31.500 Mswati II King Mswati II (c. 1820 – August 1868), also known as Mswati and Mavuso III ,

306-549: The 20th century and the beginning of the 21st. Mining in the early 19th century was the dominant industry with mines located in Ngwenya, Bulembu, Piggs Peak and other areas. Ngwenya mine is notable for its status as the oldest known iron ore mine in the world. Some mining activity still continues in this mine under the Indian mining company Salgaocar. The other mines in the region are no longer operational. The Bulembu mining town which

340-774: The Eswatini National Archives. The umhlanga festival, held at Ludzidzini Royal Kraal, is one of the most famous cultural events in Eswatini. Mantenga Falls and cultural village, also in the Zulwini valley, are magnets for Swazi cultural tourists. Further north of the region lies the Maguga dam and lodge, and further north is the Phophonyane Falls. Hhohho is also home to the Malolotja nature reserve,

374-700: The Eswatini Revenue Authority, among many others. The forestry industry is one of the most important sectors of the Hhohho economy. The area around the towns of Piggs Peak and Bulembu is home to many planted forests and sawmills. The wood is exported for processing in South Africa. The remaining agricultural sector remains very small. Most rural dwellers continue to cultivate rain-fed crops on Swazi Nation Land , and keep small amounts of livestock. Mining in Hhohho declined significantly during

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408-605: The Mbayiyane mountains (Three Sisters), situated east of Mantibovu (Low's Creek), where Mekemeke Lanyandza III was the chieftainess and Mhlahlo Vilakati the indvuna. Mekemeke is situated high up on the eastern side of the Mbayiyane mountains, from where the drift in the Crocodile River near Malelane could be observed should the Mbayi return to the area. Mswati moved his administrative capital and military posts to Hhohho , on

442-797: The Nyatsi and the Malalane, brought terror to African homes as far afield as Zimbabwe and Mozambique . His crack regiments were used more importantly against emakhandzambili chiefs in Swazi territory and others outside Eswatini. The foothills of the Drakensberg , westwards from Malelane and Low's Creek to the Barberton mountain land, were occupied by Mbayi, also known as the Maseko people, who were held in subjection by, but were not incorporated with,

476-439: The area. Gold deposits were first recorded around Piggs Peak mine during modern times in 1872 and in 1884 a gold-bearing reef was discovered in the hills to the west by the prospector, William Pigg , after whom the town is named. Pigg's Peak represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Eswatini and in the world having estimated reserves of 700 million tonnes of ore grading 35% iron metal. Other mining activity took place in

510-526: The area. The land was later conquered by King Sobhuza I in the early 19th century as he relocated his capital from Zombodze in present-day Shiselweni, to Zombodze in the centre of Eswatini. Sotho clans such as the Gama, Mnisi and Magagula, and Nguni clans such as the Maseko, were incorporated into the Swazi state. The royal capital of Sobhuza was built in what forms the Ezulwini valley (valley of heaven). This land

544-431: The borders of Hhohho were officially drawn, with its capital – and that of the country – being Mbabane. The British resident commissioner had his offices in the town. The city, the meaning of whose name is believed to originate from a “small and bitter highveld plant” that grew in the area, is named after Chief Mbabane Kunene. In the northwest of Eswatini, gold was discovered, drawing a large number of miners and settlers in

578-818: The boundaries of the Swazi territory beyond that of the present state with military outposts and royal villages outposts such as Embhuleni , on the upper Komati River at the foot of the Mkhingoma Mountains in Badplaas , Mekemeke near the Mbayiyane Mountains, situated east of Mantibovu (Low's Creek) and Malelane in Nkomazi. The death of Mswati II in August 1868 ended the era of Swazi conquest, territorial expansion and resulted in unification of various people into one nation. Ingwenyama Mswati II

612-514: The death of Sobhuza, Mswati inherited an area which extended as far as present day Barberton in the north and included the Nomahasha district in the Portuguese territory of Mozambique . Mswati's military power, initially suppressed by infighting with his brothers Fokoti, Somcuba and Malambule who supported the kingship of Sidubela, to whom they had already given custody of royal cattle,

646-428: The neighbouring town of Bulembu , where later on, asbestos was mined. The town of Ngwenya on the western border of Eswatini with South Africa, is home to the oldest known iron-ore mine in the world. Commercial scale mining took place in the mine until 1977. The Hhohho region is governed by the regional administrator, who is appointed by the king. The present regional administrator is HRH Princess Tsandzile. The seat of

680-477: The north. Indeed, Mswati's armies expanded the territory of Eswatini. More royal outposts were constructed in towns that are now in South Africa's Mpumalanga province. The loss of the territory occurred after Mswati's reign had ended, and was spurred by the concession hunters, and settlers in the territory that became the Transvaal Republic. During Eswatini's status as a British protectorate (1903–68),

714-761: The northern bank of the Mlumati River and continued his attacks on the various tribes, which include the Bapedi , the Baphalaborwa, the Lobedu near Duiwelskloof , the Venda of Zoutpansberg and as far afield as the Great Zimbabwe and the plains of Mozambique. A. T. Bryant writes that in this way Mswati gradually extended borders, increased his subjects and added to the wealth and strength of his kingdom. It

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748-566: The people of AbakaNgcamane Maseko . They were driven out of this area in 1852 by the Swazi regiments. They fled north and occupied the area between the Crocodile and Sabie Rivers . King Mswati 2nd also used his force to influence political events in the Gaza kingdom , east of the Lubombo mountains . He also defended his country against Zulu encroachment with great determination. Mswati built

782-466: The refugees. The disruption of rival kingdoms magnified Mswati's power and distant tribesmen sought his protection. King Mswati 2nd established loyal groups in sparsely populated chiefdoms under their own leadership, and in others, he placed royal princes and trusted commoners. These new groups and the immigrants became known as Emafikamuva ( "those who arrived after" ). Mswati died at his royal residence at Hhohho in August, 1865, aged about forty. He

816-430: The region is dominated by services, tourism, and forestry. The capital, Mbabane, is home to the headquarters of many of Eswatini's corporations. The central bank of Eswatini is located in Mbabane, as are the headquarters of Standard Bank, Nedbank, Swazi Bank, First National Bank and Eswatini Building Society. The other financial service organisations located in Mbabane include African Alliance, Select Management Services, and

850-403: The regional administration is in the regional capital, Mbabane. Mbabane is also the administrative capital of Eswatini. The legal system in Hhohho follows that of the whole country. There are magistrate courts which administer Roman-Dutch law. Hhohho is subdivided to 14 tinkhundla (or constituencies). These are local administration centres, and also parliamentary constituencies. Each inkhundla

884-466: The throne, his predecessor left him a country claimed to be reaching modern day Barberton in the north, Carolina in the west, Pongola River in the south and Lubombo Mountains in the east. After succeeding his father in 1850, King Mswati II commenced a career of large-scale raids and adventure. He selected, as his hunting ground, the prosperous tribal lands of the various groups to the north of Eswatini. He became rich and his crack regiments, such as

918-566: The young Mswati became king of Eswatini in 1840. Malambule appropriated and hid some of the royal cattle for himself, colluding with his brother Fokoti to commit an act that was tantamount to treason. When Mswati found out about the cattle, he sent his men to punish Malambule. Malambule fled with his brothers Fokoti, Sidubela and Ndlela to the south of the country to seek refuge among the Kunene clan. They later fled to Zululand when Mswati sent his regiments to attack this clan for giving protection to

952-475: Was born as a son of Somhlolo or Sobhuza I and Queen Tsandzile Ndwandwe , the daughter of Zwide Ndwandwe, the leader of the powerful Ndwandwe clan south of the Pongola River . The Swazi clans under the leadership of Sobhuza I were constantly in conflict with the Ndwandwe's. As a result, Sobhuza made an offer to marry one of the daughters of Zwide and establish peace with his neighbors. This culminated in

986-495: Was buried at the royal burial hill at Mbilaneni, next to his father and great-grandfather. The death of Mswati II ended the era of Swazi conquest, territorial expansion and unification of various peoples into one nation. Mswati's successor was the eleven-year-old Ludvonga. He died in 1874 without any children and Mbandzeni became the new King in June 1875. He was known as Dlamini IV (1875-1889). Ludvonga's older half brother Mabhedla

1020-435: Was chosen for its impenetrability by invaders, and for its fertility, and good rivers. Under the rule of King Mswati II , the royal capital of the king was constructed north of the country and was called Hhohho. This is the eponym of the Hhohho region. This briefly shifted the political centre of Eswatini northwards, first to minimise the danger of invasion by Zulu forces from the south, and later to expand and conquer lands in

1054-486: Was increased in the late 1850s and thereafter. When Mswati's armies attacked organized forces of other Bantu tribes or nations, the goal was initially plunder in the form of cattle and captives, rather than incorporation into one political unit. During this period the arrival of Trekboers , in what would become the Transvaal republic , marked the first contact between Swazis and European settlers. Mswati greatly extended

Hhohho Region - Misplaced Pages Continue

1088-470: Was regarded as a threat to the crown prince and had to flee from Eswatini. He fled Eswatini in approximately 1872 or 1873 and lived for a while on the farm Stonehaven, some 8 km northwest of Low's Creek, before moving on until he settled at the Leolo mountains, near Steelpoort , west of Burgersfort . He died in 1895 and is buried on the Leolo mountains. Swazi Nation Land Swazi Nation Land (SNL)

1122-422: Was the king of Eswatini between 1840 and 1868. He was also the eponym of Eswatini . Mswati is considered to be one of the greatest fighting kings of Eswatini. Under his kingship, the territorial boundaries of Eswatini were greatly increased. Mswati was the son of Sobhuza I and Tsandzile Ndwandwe (known as "LaZidze" ) who after ruling as Queen Mother became Queen Regent after the death of her son. After

1156-564: Was the main centre for asbestos mining has now diversified into other sectors, and is privately owned. Tourism is one of the largest sectors of the Hhohho economy. The Ezulwini valley is Eswatini's most famous tourist area with many hotels and restaurants. In Lobamba, the royal and legislative capital of Eswatini, various tourist attractions exist. These include the National Museum, the King Sobhuza II Memorial, and

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