Ngwenyama

Ngwenyama is the title of the male ruler or king of Swaziland, counterpart of the Ndlovukati. Ngwenyama means "lion" in Swati, but in an honorific sense distinguished from -bhubhesi, the usual way of referring to lions as animals. It is a close analogue to the Zulu title Ngonyama for the Zulu king, which has the same meaning in the same honorific sense, though no similar female counterpart.

Swazi kings must belong to the Dlamini isibongo (clan).

The title will sometimes be seen as Ingwenyama, iNgwenyama or ingwenyama, which mean "the king". The prefix particle i- functions like the definite article the in English, so that one would write "The ngwenyama went to Mbabane" or "Ingwenyama went to Mbabane", but not "The ingwenyama went to Mbabane", because The and i- would be redundant. The plural form is tiNgwenyama.

References

• Cope, Nicholas (1993). To Bind the Nation: Solomon ka Dinuzulu and Zulu Nationalism 1913-1933. University of Natal Press.
• Kuper, Hilda (1980 [1947]). An African Aristocracy. Rank Among the Swazi [facsimile reprint]. Africana Publishing Company for the International African Institute.

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