The Parliament of Eswatini ( Swazi : Libandla ) consists of two chambers:
25-567: The Houses of Parliament are located in Lobamba . It was established in 1967 when the Legislative Council was disbanded and the bicameral parliament was established in the new constitution . 26°26′48″S 31°12′23″E / 26.446586°S 31.206506°E / -26.446586; 31.206506 This legislature -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Eswatini -related article
50-472: A subtropical climate with wet summers and dry winters. In 1997 its population was 3,625. Its population in 2006 was 11,000. Across the country, 84.3% of its people are Swazi and 9.9% are Zulu . The remainder are Tsonga (2.5%), Indian (1.6%) and others (1.7%). Its official languages are Swazi and English . Two areas have been called Lobamba, the first now called "Old Lobamba" was established in 1750 in southern Eswatini. The subject of this article
75-418: A defensive position. It's laid out as a circular arrangement of beehive-shaped huts called iQukwane , which were traditionally constructed by women, surrounding a cattle enclosure. They are always built on one of Zululand's many hills, orientated downwards. The term "kraal" refers both to the village itself and the central cattle enclosure. Kraals are built on a hill sloping downwards, with the entrance facing
100-514: A fence of thorn-bush branches, a palisade , mud wall , or other fencing, roughly circular in form. It is similar to a boma in eastern or central Africa. In Curaçao , another Dutch colony, the enclosure was called "koraal" Which means coral and which in Papiamentu is translated "kura" (still in use today for any enclosed terrain, like a garden). In the Afrikaans language a kraal is
125-467: A homestead ( Xhosa : umzi , Zulu : umuzi , Sotho : mutsi , Swazi : umuti ) houses (singular indlu ; plural Xhosa and Zulu izindlu , Sotho dintlu , Swati tindlu ). Folds for animals and enclosures made specially for defensive purposes are also called kraals. For the Zulu people , the kraal, or isibaya , in the Zulu language , acts as a homestead, a site for ritual worship, and as
150-609: A term derived from the Portuguese word curral , cognate with the Spanish-language corral , which entered into English separately. In Eastern and Central Africa, the equivalent word for a livestock enclosure is boma , but this has taken on wider meanings. In some Southern African regions, the term Kraal is used in Scouting to refer to the team of Scout Leaders of a group. The term primarily refers to
175-604: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Lobamba Lobamba is a city in Eswatini , and is one of the two capitals (along with Mbabane ), serving as the legislative , traditional , spiritual , seat of government of the Parliament of Eswatini , and Ludzidzini Royal Village , the residence of Queen Ntfombi , the Queen Mother . Mswati III lives about ten kilometres (6 mi) away at
200-517: Is a settlement that was created by Sobhuza II in the northwest section of the country. In 1903, following the Boer Wars , the British government took control of Eswatini and it was then ruled by a regent . In 1921 King Sobhuza II became leader of Eswatini, which was still under the British government's control. Eswatini became independent of the British government on September 6, 1968, which
225-643: Is sometimes open to visitors. The royal Embo State Palace was built by the British to house the polygamous Sobhuza II and his family, including 600 children. It is not open to visitors and photographs are not allowed. King Mswati III lives at the Lozitha Palace, about ten kilometres (6 mi) from the city. He visits the Royal Kraal, or Ludzidzini Royal Residence, during the Umhlanga dance and Incwala ceremonies. The royal village includes
250-491: Is the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary that has horseback and hiking trails, guided mountain-bike tours, rustic trail camps and camping in caves. Throughout the park are opportunities to observe game, including antelope , giraffe , zebras , and many types of birds. A memorial park was established in the memory of King Sobhuza II , who was the leader of the country's independence in 1968. The king's life
275-608: Is the legislative seat of the Eswatini government. It was made a branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on January 1, 1965, and its date of independence was January 1, 1968. The constitution was signed by King Mswati III on July 26, 2005. The king appoints the prime minister and the council. There are two chambers: the Senate and the House of Assembly. The parliament building
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#1732772562885300-575: Is told through an exhibit of photographs. Three of the king's vintage cars are in the museum and his mausoleum is within the park. Malkerns Valley is an arts and crafts center located seven kilometres ( 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 mi) south of Lobamba. Lobamba is famous for two ceremonies that are held there: the Reed Dance , celebrated in August and September in honour of the Queen Mother, and
325-640: The Incwala , in December and January in honour of the King. These ceremonies include dancing, singing, and celebrations with traditional attire. Kraal Kraal (also spelled craal or kraul ) is an Afrikaans and Dutch word, also used in South African English , for an enclosure for cattle or other livestock, located within a Southern African settlement or village surrounded by
350-539: The International Council of Museums . The museum houses a memorial to the revered King Sobhuza II and Swazi and South African artifacts. It has a collection of photographs that include subjects of the Mbabane and Manzini Regions and British colonial administrators. A 16th-century head of Krishna , discovered nearby, is located in the natural history wing and provides evidence of trade with
375-581: The MR3 highway and MR103 road. There are small local airstrips and a railroad that operates between Eswatini and Mozambique. The Matsapha Airport is 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Lobamba. The next closest domestic and international airport is Maputo International Airport in Mozambique, which is 216 kilometres (134 mi) away. One of the tour operators in Eswatini is Swazi Trails, which has tours of
400-562: The east . The natural history wing includes highveld and lowveld dioramas to illustrate the diverse Eswatini ecosystems and feature rarely seen nocturnal animals. Its nature-centric exhibits integrate environmental and cultural impacts. A recreation of a Swazi homestead is located outside the museum. Also located near the Parliament building is the Somhlolo stadium for football and other major events. Just outside Lobamba
425-465: The British government for the polygamous King Sobhuza II , whose family included 600 children. He led the movement for Eswatini's independence from the United Kingdom and was its first prime minister. It is located in the western part of the country in the woodland "Valley of Heaven", or Ezulwini Valley . It is 16 kilometres (10 mi) from Mbabane , in the district of Hhohho and has
450-591: The Lobamba royal village, nature reserves, game parks, and craft centres. Nabo Bashoa runs minibus tours. African Life. Some of the Sons of the Late Chief Bokweni Mamba. National Dancing at Lobamba (1951) The National Museum of Eswatini, located in Lobamba next to the Parliament building , was built in 1972 and expanded in 1986 and 1990. The museum was made a non-profit institution in 1974 by
475-549: The Lozitha Palace. The King and Queen Mother participate in annual December and January Incwala ceremonies and August and September Reed Dances at Ludzidzini Royal Village, also known as the Royal Kraal . Key attractions are the Parliament, National Museum of Eswatini, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary , and the King Sobhuza II Memorial Park. The Embo State Palace, not open to visitors, was built by
500-406: The bottom of the hill for sanitary, defensive, and ritual purposes. There is an outside wooden fence that encompasses the entire kraal, and then an interior one for the cattle enclosure. The hut opposite of the entrance was the home of either the chief's mother or the chief himself. The huts closest to the chief's were those of his wives, with the great wife closest to his own. Closer to the entrance,
525-409: The huts of the sons of the village were placed on the left side and the huts of the daughters of the village on the right. In each hut would be an umsamo , a special ritual area, with the most important umsamo located in the chief's hut. The huts nearest the entrance were used for guests and visitors. Additionally, there would be multiple watchtowers in the kraal. The umsamo within the chief's hut
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#1732772562885550-587: The queen mother's Royal Kraal, dwelling clusters, and a parade ground for ceremonies. Lobamba has a police station and is served by The Royal Eswatini Police Service. During the British colonial era Lord Selborne , High Commissioner for South Africa signed a proclamation in 1907 for what became the Eswatini Police Force. After Eswatini's independence in 1968, the force was renamed the Royal Eswatini Police Force. Its name
575-459: The type of dispersed homestead characteristic of the Nguni -speaking peoples of southern Africa. Although from the period of colonisation, European South Africans and historians commonly referred to the entire settlement as a kraal , ethnographers have long recognised that its proper referent is the animal pen area within a homestead. Modern ethnographers call the several human dwellings within
600-557: Was announced at a cattle byre in Lobamba by Prince Makhosini . He was the country's first prime minister and the great-grandson of Sobhuza I . With its independence, Eswatini was a member in its own right of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), British Commonwealth , and the United Nations . It was made a constitutional monarchy under Sobhuza II, who lived in the royal residence, or kraal , in Lobamba. Lobamba
625-492: Was further changed making it a service, rather than a force. Education is free, but is not required. It had low literacy rates, but they are rising. Lobamba National High School is in Lobamba. The government provides health facilities to manage endemic disease and malnutrition . Retirement, disability and survivor pensions are available through its welfare system. Many of the roads in Eswatini are unsurfaced, but there are good roads that connect principal towns, including
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