Ntfombi of Eswatini

Queen Mother of Eswatini since 1986

For other people with similar names, see Ntombi (given name).

Ntfombi

Ndlovukati

Ntfombi in 2016

Queen Mother of Eswatini
Reign| 25 April 1986 – present
Coronation| 25 April 1986
Predecessor| Dzeliwe (as regent)
King| Mswati III
Queen regent of Swaziland
Regency| 25 March 1983 – 24 April 1986
Predecessor| Sobhuza II (as king)
Dzeliwe (as queen regent)
Successor| Mswati III (as king)

Born| Ntfombi Tfwala
(1949-12-27) 27 December 1949 (age 74)
Swaziland
(now Eswatini)
Spouse| Sobhuza II (until his death, in 1982)
Issue| Mswati III
House| Dlamini (by marriage)

Ntfombi (born Ntfombi Tfwala; 27 December 1949) has been Queen Mother of Eswatini since 1986. She was also regent of Eswatini from 1983 to 1986. She is the mother of King Mswati III.[1]

## Early life and marriage

[edit]

Ntfombi married King Sobhuza II of Swaziland, with whom she had a son, Prince Makhosetive Dlamini.

In 1982 King Sobhuza designated another of his wives, Queen Dzeliwe, as the Ndlovukati to reign as joint sovereign with his future successor. Instead of recognizing one of her sons as his heir apparent, he indicated to his Loqoqo that he wanted Prince Makhosetive Dlamini to succeed him on the throne. In June 1982 he also extended the authority of the Loqoqo, empowering it to act as a "Supreme Council of State", free to appoint an "Authorised Person" to exercise the royal prerogative if a regent was deemed unable to do so properly.

## Regency of Queen Dzeliwe

[edit]

In the power vacuum that resulted from the death of Sobhuza II, Ndlovukati Dzeliwe became Queen Regent during the minority of the designated heir to the throne, but the Loqoqo, consisting mostly of King Sobhuza's senior relatives, chiefs and advisors, usurped her authority and sacked Sobhuza's prime minister, Prince Mabandla Dlamini, whom Loqoqo members apparently feared would strip them of their new role. Once Prince Makhosetive Dlamini attained his majority and officially became king, his mother would then be expected to be designated as the new Ndlovukati.[2] However, Queen Dzeliwe was placed under house arrest in 1983. Following a 9-day period during which Swaziland was ruled by Prince Sozisa Dlamini, Ntfombi was selected as queen regent.

She was included in Andy Warhol's portrait series in 1985 as one of four Reigning Queens, along with queens Beatrix of the Netherlands, Margrethe II of Denmark and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.[3]

## Indlovukazi

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Standard of the Queen Mother of Eswatini

In 1986, when he turned 18, Makhosetive was crowned King Mswati III. Upon becoming king, as was the custom, he declared his mother to be the Indlovukazi (a title roughly corresponding to queen mother, literally translated as Great She-Elephant) and, as such, joint head of state. As queen mother, Ntfombi is seen as the spiritual and national head of state, while her son is considered the administrative head of state.[4][5][6]

Swazi
royal family

Queen Ntfombi, The Ndlovukati (Queen Mother)

* King Mswati III, The Ingwenyama (King)
* Queen ritual, The Inkhosikati LaMatsebula
* Prince Sicalo
* Prince Maveletiveni
* Queen ritual, The Inkhosikati LaMotsa
* Prince Majahonkhe
Princess Nothando, The Inkhosikati LaHlophe
* Prince Alakhiwelivelemaswati
* Prince Buhlebenkhosi
* Prince Lusuku
* Prince Sinawonkhe
* Queen Sibonelo, The Inkhosikati LaMbikiza
* Princess Sikhanyiso
* Prince Lindani
* Queen Carol, The Inkhosikati LaNgangaza
* Princess Temaswati
* Princess Tiyandza
* Princess Tebukhosi
* Princess Wesive
* Queen Putsoana, The Inkhosikati LaHwala
* Prince Bandzile
* Princess Temashayina
* Queen Delisa, The Inkhosikati LaMagwaza
* Princess Temtsimba
* Princess Sakhizwe
* Princess Sentelweyinhosi
* Princess Sibusezweni
* Queen Angel, The Inkhosikati LaGija
* Princess Yenziwe
* Queen Nontsetselo, The Inkhosikati LaMagongo
* Prince Mcwasho
* Queen Zena Soraya, The Inkhosikati LaMahlangu
* Prince Saziwangaye
* Princess Lomabheka
* Queen Noliqhwa Ayanda, The Inkhosikati LaNtentesa
* Princess Sabusiswa
* Queen Nothando Dube, The Inkhosikati LaDube
* Princess Makhosothando
* Prince Betive
* Princess Mahlemalangeni
* Queen Phindile, The Inkhosikati LaNkambule
* Princess Buhlebetive
* Princess Nikudumo
* Queen Sindiswa, The Inkhosikati LaFogiyane
* Princess Ntsandvweni
* Princess Nolikwa
* Queen Siphelele Mashwama, The Inkhosikati LaMashwama
* Prince Mkhandlo

* v
* t
* e

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Soszynski, Henry. "SWAZILAND". members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 2018-05-19. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
2. ^ Magongo, Ellen Mary. Kingship and Transition in Swaziland, 1973–1988[permanent dead link]. Master of Arts in History dissertation. University of South Africa. November 2009.
3. ^ Los Angeles Times. Muchnic, Suzanne. The Art Galleries: Downtown, articles.latimes.com; 20 December 1985.
4. ^ "Swaziland's 40th anniversary bash hits sour note". Archived from the original on 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
5. ^ "Key Facts about Swaziland". Television New Zealand. Reuters. 19 September 2008. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
6. ^ "Swazi queen flies out after king falls ill". Archived from the original on 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2009-01-28.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ntombi Tfwala.

Regnal titles

Preceded by

Queen Dzeliwe
(Queen Regent)

|  Queen Mother of Eswatini
1986–present  | Incumbent

* v
* t
* e

Monarchs of Eswatini (Swaziland)

Pre-modern Swaziland (until 1745)|

* Mkhulunkosi
* Qomizitha
* Sukuta
* Madlasomo
* Ndlovu
* Ngwekati
* Mawawa/Kuwawa
* Sidvwabasilutfuli
* Gebase
* Kunene
* Nkabingwe
* Madlabane
* Hhili
* Dulunga
* Dondobola
* Sihuba
* Mlangeni
* Msimudze
* Mbhondlo/Mbhondlo/Mbhoholo
* Tembe
* Sikhulumaloyo
* Langa Samuketi
* Nkomo
* Khabako
* Nkosi I: (1355–1400)
* Ngwane I: 1400–1435
* Dlamini I (Matalatala): 1435–1465
* Mswati I: 1480–1520
* Ngwane II: 1520–1550
* Dlamini II: 1555–1600
* Nkosi II: 1600–1640
* Mavuso I: 1645–1680
* Magudulela: 1685–1685
* Ludvonga: 1685–1715
* Dlamini III: 1720–1744

Modern Swaziland (1745–1906)|

* Ngwane III: 1745–1780 (the first King of modern Swaziland)
* LaYaka Ndwandwe (Queen Regent): 1780
* Ndvungunye (Zikodze, Mavuso II): 1780–1815
* Lomvula Mndzebele (Queen Regent): 1815
* Sobhuza I (Somhlolo): 1815–1839
* Lojiba Simelane (Queen Regent): 1836–1840
* Mswati II (Mavuso III): 1840–1868
* Tsandzile Ndwandwe (Queen Regent): July 1868 – June 1875
* Crown Prince Ludvonga II (Macaleni) – never became King
* Dlamini IV (Mbandzeni): 1875–1889
* Tibati Nkambule (Queen Regent): 7 April 1889 – 1894
* Ngwane V (Mahlokohla): January 1895 – 10 December 1899
* Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli (Queen Regent): 10 December 1899 – 31 March 1906

Paramount Chiefs under British rule (1906–1968)|

* Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli (Queen Regent): 31 March 1906 – 22 December 1921
* Sobhuza II: 22 December 1921 – 2 September 1968

Kings of Swaziland (1968–2018)|

* Sobhuza II (1968–1982)
* Queen Dzeliwe (regent): 21 August 1982 – 9 August 1983
* Prince Sozisa Dlamini (acting regent): 9 August 1983 – 18 August 1983
* Queen Ntfombi (regent): 18 August 1983 – 25 April 1986
* Mswati III (1986–present)

Kings of Eswatini (2018–present)|

* Mswati III (1986–present)

tiNdlovukati (Queen Mother/Doctor)|

* LaYaka Ndwandwe, 1745–1780 (Regent 1780)
* Lomvula Mndzebele, 1780–1815 (Regent 1815)
* Lojiba Simelane, 1815–1840 (Regent 1836–1840)
* Tsandzile Ndwandwe (LaZidze), 1840–1875 (Regent 1868–1875)
* Sisile Khumalo (Lamgangeni), 1875
* Tibati Nkambule (Madvolomafisha), 1875–1894 (Regent 1889–1894)
* Labotsibeni Mdluli (Gwamile, Lamvelase), 1894–1925 (Regent 1899–1921)
* Lomawa Ndwandwe, 1925–1938
* Nukwase Ndwandwe, 1938–1957
* Zihlathi Ndwandwe/Mkhatjwa, 1957–1975
* Seneleleni Ndwandwe, 1975–1982
* Dzeliwe Shongwe (Regent 1982–1983)
* Ntfombi Tfwala, 1983–present (Regent 1983–1986)

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