A Royal Union: Love or Politics?
In a surprising turn of events, Nomcebo Zuma, the 21-year-old daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, is preparing to marry Eswatini’s King Mswati III, becoming his 16th wife. The announcement was made by a spokesperson for Africa’s last remaining monarchy and reported by the BBC.
Nomcebo Zuma was present at the annual reed dance—a traditional celebration marking the passage to womanhood for young women and girls. During this event, she was named the liphovela, meaning “royal fiancée” in Swati. The days-long reed dance involves young women singing and dancing bare-chested, adorned in traditional attire that includes anklets and colorful tassels, with some carrying mock swords and shields.
The polygamous king
The 56-year-old Eswatini monarch, King Mswati III, is currently married to 11 wives and has been in a total of 15 marriages. Despite his polygamous lifestyle, the Eswatini monarchy spokesperson dismissed any notion that this marriage is a political alliance. He emphasized that the union is grounded in love.
“Love has no eyes to see or count age. Love happens between two people. It can happen between a person who is 100 years old and a person who is above the average of what is permitted constitutionally,” the spokesperson told the BBC’s Newsday programme.
King Mswati III has ruled Eswatini for the past 38 years and has faced criticism for his luxurious lifestyle while many of his subjects live in poverty. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has a population of 1.1 million and one of the world’s highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection.
Jacob Zuma, who resigned amid corruption allegations during his presidency, still faces a court case over the 1999 arms deal, though he denies any wrongdoing. Despite his controversial tenure, the 82-year-old former president is respected by his supporters for upholding traditional Zulu beliefs. He himself had several wives and is believed to have fathered 20 children.
Ceremony highlights
Nomcebo Zuma was dressed in the bright colors of the Eswatini kingdom on the final day of the reed dance, also known as the Umhlanga ceremony. This event aims to discourage young participants from becoming sexually active at an early age.
This is not the first time King Mswati III has chosen a young bride at the Umhlanga ceremony. In 2005, he selected 17-year-old Phindile Nkambule as his wife, just days after lifting a ban on sexual relations for girls younger than 18.
Royal ties
Interestingly, King Mswati III and former South African president Jacob Zuma are already connected through marriage, adding another layer of intrigue to this royal union.
As the world watches, the marriage of Nomcebo Zuma to King Mswati III is set to be a significant event, blending tradition with modern-day complexities.
