Ngwenyama
Encyclopedia
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.
Ndlovukati
Ndlovukati is a Swati title that roughly means Queen Mother or Senior Queen, and is given preferentially to the mother of the King or another female royal of high-status if the King's mother has died.-Origins:...
. Ngwenyama means "lion" in Swati
Swati language
The Swazi or Swati language is a Bantu language of the Nguni group spoken in Swaziland and South Africa by the Swazi people. The number of speakers is estimated to be in the region of 3 million. The language is taught in Swaziland and some South African schools in Mpumalanga and KaNgwane areas...
, 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
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
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
Isibongo
In Zulu culture, "isibongo" is a clan name or "praise name". The term is derived from the verb "-bonga" meaning "to praise", "to thank", "to worship" or "to call by a clan name". The plural form "izibongo" refers to praise poetry, a typical Zulu art form where the fame of a person is extolled....
(clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
).
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
Mbabane
-References:...
", because The and i- would be redundant. The plural form is tiNgwenyama.