Dispatch 17 - Kingdom of the Swazi's
The buy-in to our Boundless Southern Africa Expedition is sometimes quite overwhelming. Fundisile Mketeni, Deputy Director-General: Biodiversity and Conservation of the South African Department of Environment and Tourism, has, with some of his team, driven all the way to Swaziland from Pretoria - it makes us feel proud to be Africans and we are humbled by days like today as Prince Mzweleni Dlamini and the entire Swaziland cabinet line up on either side of the border at Lavumisa to welcome us into the Kingdom of Swaziland. Drum majorettes lead us to today's Boundless Soccer Challenge, there's a military brass band that plays the national anthem and wonderful cultural activity as members of the different Royal Regiments sing and dance. It's wonderful to observe how the Swazi's have retained their traditions with such dignity. Minister Ndlovu is a beautiful lady in full Swazi dress, she's in charge of sports and culture. "Africa's time has come," she says, "gone are the days of it being referred to as the Dark Continent. The Fifa World Cup is coming to Africa and for the children of Swaziland I want it to rain soccer balls. The government will be distributing the quantity of two thousand and ten balls and the first one we'll all sign and hand over today to Kingsley Holgate to carry it from here all the way to the Mouth of the Orange River." 'Boundless is the greatest opportunity and a concept that will enhance our ties with African neighbours,' writes Macford Sibandze, Minister of Toursim, Swaziland into the Boundless Southern Africa Expedition Scroll of Peace and Goodwill in support of Conservation that we are carrying across Africa. The community day has been sponsored by the Royal Jozini Big 6. There's a feast and the tables groan with the weight of the meat platters. Suddenly the expedition is called away. "It's by royal decree," says Prince Dlamini, "you have been summoned to the palace to meet with Indovukazi, the Great She-Elephant, the Queen Mother." And so later that evening, after the royal praise singer has announced the regal entry of the Queen Mother who, dressed in a cow hide, now sits on a white and gold throne as the expedition members, all of whom have been dressed in Swazi traditional cloth, sit on the floor at the feet of the most important woman in Swaziland.
Ntombi, Indovukazi of Swaziland (born c. 1950), has been the Indovukazi (Great She-Elephant) and Joint Head of State of Swaziland since 1986. She was also Regent of Swaziland 1983-1986. She was born Ntombi laTfwala and is the mother of Mswati III.
After the death of Sobhuza II (Ntombi's husband) in 1982, his widow Queen Dzeliwe assumed the regency, since it is the custom for one of the Queens to assume regency before a new King is selected. However, Queen Dzeliwe was placed under house arrest in 1983. Then, after a 9-day period ruled by Prince Sozisa Dlamini, Ntombi was selected as queen regent. A month later, her son Mswati III was selected as Crown Prince. In 1986, when he turned 18, he was crowned King. When he was made King, as was the custom, he made his mother the Indovukazi (a title roughly corresponding to Queen Mother, lit. Great She-Elephant) and Joint Head of State. As Queen Mother, Queen Ntombi is seen as the spiritual and national head of state, while her son is considered the Administrative Head of State.
We share the objectives of the expedition with the Indovukazi and hand over an illustrated map of our Boundless Southern Africa journey. Later some of us are invited into her private lounge where we sip tall glasses of somewhat potent marula wine. It s been a great honour for us. We sleep at the Matenga Village and next morning the accomplished Matenga choir sing us the Boundless Southern Africa song - the same one that was sang at our departure from the ICC in Durban all those days ago. We collect some calabash water from the stream and head for the Usuthu Gorge We'll keep you posted.
