Capital City in Hhohho, Eswatini
Lobamba
is a
city
in
Eswatini
, and is one of the two
capitals
(along with
Mbabane
), serving as the
legislative
,
traditional
,
spiritual
,
seat of government
of the
Parliament of Eswatini
,
[6]
and
Ludzidzini Royal Village
, the residence of
Queen Ntfombi
, the
Queen Mother
.
[7]
[8]
Mswati III
lives about ten kilometres (6 mi) away at the Lozitha Palace. The King and Queen Mother participate in annual December and January
Incwala
ceremonies and August and September
Reed Dances
at Ludzidzini Royal Village, also known as the Royal
Kraal
.
Key attractions are the Parliament, National Museum of Eswatini,
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
, and the King Sobhuza II Memorial Park. The Embo State Palace, not open to visitors, was built by the British government for the
polygamous
King
Sobhuza II
, whose family included 600 children. He led the movement for Eswatini's independence from the United Kingdom and was its first prime minister.
Overview
[
edit
]
It is located in the western part of the country
[9]
in the woodland "Valley of Heaven", or
Ezulwini Valley
.
[10]
It is 16 kilometres (10 mi) from
Mbabane
, in the district of
Hhohho
[7]
and has a
subtropical climate
with wet summers and dry winters.
[9]
Sobhuza II
In 1997 its population was 3,625.
[7]
Its population in 2006 was 11,000.
[11]
Across the country, 84.3% of its people are
Swazi
and 9.9% are
Zulu
. The remainder are
Tsonga
(2.5%),
Indian
(1.6%) and others (1.7%). Its official languages are
Swazi
and
English
.
[9]
History
[
edit
]
Two areas have been called Lobamba, the first now called "Old Lobamba" was established in 1750 in southern Eswatini. The subject of this article is a settlement that was created by
Sobhuza II
in the northwest section of the country.
[12]
[nb 1]
In 1903, following the
Boer Wars
, the British government took control of Eswatini and it was then ruled by a
regent
. In 1921 King
Sobhuza II
became leader of Eswatini, which was still under the British government's control.
[16]
Eswatini became independent of the British government on September 6, 1968, which was announced at a cattle
byre
in Lobamba by
Prince Makhosini
. He was the country's first prime minister and the great-grandson of
Sobhuza I
. With its independence, Eswatini was a member in its own right of the
Organization of African Unity
(OAU),
British Commonwealth
, and the
United Nations
.
[17]
It was made a
constitutional monarchy
under Sobhuza II,
[18]
who lived in the royal residence, or
kraal
, in Lobamba.
[18]
Government
[
edit
]
Mswati III
, King of Eswatini
April 1986?present
Lobamba is the legislative seat of the
Eswatini
government.
[6]
Parliament of Eswatini
[
edit
]
It was made a branch of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
on January 1, 1965, and its date of independence was January 1, 1968. The constitution was signed by King
Mswati III
on July 26, 2005. The
king
appoints the
prime minister
and the council. There are two chambers: the Senate and the House of Assembly.
[6]
The parliament building is sometimes open to visitors.
[19]
Embo State Palace
[
edit
]
The royal Embo State Palace was built by the British to house the
polygamous
Sobhuza II
and his family, including 600 children. It is not open to visitors and photographs are not allowed.
[10]
[19]
Royal residences
[
edit
]
King
Mswati III
lives at the Lozitha Palace, about ten kilometres (6 mi) from the city. He visits the Royal Kraal, or Ludzidzini Royal Residence, during the
Umhlanga dance
and
Incwala
ceremonies.
[19]
The royal village includes the queen mother's Royal Kraal, dwelling clusters, and a parade ground for ceremonies.
[20]
Infrastructure
[
edit
]
Law enforcement
[
edit
]
Lord Selborne
,
High Commissioner for South Africa
signed a proclamation in 1907 for what became the Eswatini Police Force.
Lobamba has a police station and is served by The Royal Eswatini Police Service.
[21]
During the British colonial era
Lord Selborne
,
High Commissioner for South Africa
signed a proclamation in 1907 for what became the Eswatini Police Force. After Eswatini's independence in 1968, the force was renamed the Royal Eswatini Police Force. Its name was further changed making it a service, rather than a force.
[22]
Education
[
edit
]
Education is free, but is not required. It had low literacy rates, but they are rising.
[9]
Lobamba National High School is in Lobamba.
[23]
Health and welfare
[
edit
]
The government provides health facilities to manage
endemic disease
and
malnutrition
. Retirement, disability and survivor pensions are available through its welfare system.
[9]
Transportation
[
edit
]
Many of the roads in Eswatini are unsurfaced, but there are good roads that connect principal towns,
[9]
including the
MR3
highway and MR103 road.
[10]
There are small local airstrips and a railroad that operates between Eswatini and Mozambique.
[9]
The
Matsapha Airport
is 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Lobamba. The next closest domestic and international airport is
Maputo International Airport
in Mozambique, which is 216 kilometres (134 mi) away.
[24]
One of the tour operators in Eswatini is Swazi Trails, which has tours of the Lobamba royal village, nature reserves, game parks, and craft centres. Nabo Bashoa runs minibus tours.
[25]
Culture and attractions
[
edit
]
African Life. Some of the Sons of the Late Chief Bokweni Mamba.
National Dancing at Lobamba (1951)
National Museum of Eswatini
[
edit
]
The National Museum of Eswatini, located in Lobamba next to the
Parliament building
, was built in 1972 and expanded in 1986 and 1990.
[14]
[26]
The museum was made a non-profit institution in 1974 by the
International Council of Museums
.
[26]
The museum houses a memorial to the revered King
Sobhuza II
[19]
and
Swazi
and
South African
artifacts. It has a collection of photographs that include subjects of the
Mbabane
and
Manzini Regions
and
British colonial
administrators. A 16th-century head of
Krishna
, discovered nearby, is located in the
natural history
wing and provides evidence of trade with the
east
.
[14]
[26]
The natural history wing includes
highveld
and
lowveld
dioramas
to illustrate the diverse Eswatini ecosystems and feature rarely seen nocturnal animals. Its nature-centric exhibits integrate environmental and cultural impacts.
[20]
A recreation of a
Swazi homestead
is located outside the museum.
[14]
Somhlolo stadium
[
edit
]
Also located near the Parliament building is the
Somhlolo stadium
for football and other major events.
[14]
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
[
edit
]
Just outside Lobamba is the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary that has horseback and hiking trails, guided mountain-bike tours, rustic trail camps and camping in caves. Throughout the park are opportunities to observe game,
[14]
including
antelope
,
giraffe
,
zebras
, and many types of birds.
[27]
King Sobhuza II Memorial Park
[
edit
]
A memorial park was established in the memory of King
Sobhuza II
, who was the leader of the country's independence in 1968. The king's life is told through an exhibit of photographs. Three of the king's vintage cars are in the museum and his mausoleum is within the park.
[20]
Malkern Valley
[
edit
]
Malkerns Valley is an arts and crafts center located
seven kilometres (
4
+
1
⁄
2
mi) south of Lobamba.
[28]
Events
[
edit
]
Ceremonies
[
edit
]
Lobamba is famous for two ceremonies that are held there: the
Reed Dance
,
[7]
celebrated in August and September in honour of the Queen Mother, and the
Incwala
,
[7]
[29]
in December and January in honour of the King. These ceremonies include dancing, singing, and celebrations with traditional attire.
[30]
[31]
See also
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
In the mid 18th century ancestors of
Sobhuza I
came to (old) Lobamba from the north.
[13]
About 1750 Swazi was founded in (old) Lobamba by
Dlamini dynasty
chief
Ngwane III
, according to local tradition. His son,
Ndvungunye
, died in 1815 and
Sobhuza I
became the king and founder of modern Eswatini, ruling from his
Shiselweni
royal residence beginning in 1818. The city of (old) Lobamba was built in 1820 as headquarters for Sobhuza I, who died in 1838.
[14]
[15]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Elevation of Lobamba,Swaziland Elevation Map, Topo, Contour
. Floodmap.net. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^
Lobamba.
Time Zone Genius. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^
Lobamba
.
Archived
2014-04-23 at the
Wayback Machine
Phone Area Code Dialing. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^
Lobamba
.
PostCodesDB. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^
Lobamba
.
GeoPostCodes. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^
a
b
c
"The Parliament of Swaziland"
Archived
2016-03-04 at the
Wayback Machine
. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Accessed April 7, 2014.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
"Lobamba"
. Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed April 8, 2014.
- ^
Ruth Cyr.
Twentieth Century Africa
. iUniverse; 2001.
ISBN
978-0-595-18982-3
. p. 485.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
Peter Haggett.
Encyclopedia of World Geography
. Marshall Cavendish; 1 July 2001.
ISBN
978-0-7614-7289-6
. p. 2477.
- ^
a
b
c
Kate Armstrong.
South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland
. Lonely Planet; 2006.
ISBN
978-1-74059-970-2
. p. 582.
- ^
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc..
Britannica Book of the Year 2010
. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; 1 March 2010.
ISBN
978-1-61535-366-8
. p. 706.
- ^
Laurel L. Rose.
The Politics of Harmony: Land Dispute Strategies in Swaziland
. Cambridge University Press; 31 January 1992.
ISBN
978-0-521-39296-9
. p. 65.
- ^
Bridget Hilton-Barber.
Weekends with Legends
. New Africa Books; 2001.
ISBN
978-0-86486-471-0
. p. 158.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Pinchuck, Tony (July 5, 2012).
The Rough Guide to South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland
. Penguin.
ISBN
9781405390453
.
- ^
Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong; Henry Louis Gates.
Dictionary of African Biography
. Oxford University Press; 2 February 2012.
ISBN
978-0-19-538207-5
. p. 424.
- ^
Ruth Cyr.
Twentieth Century Africa
. iUniverse; 2001.
ISBN
978-0-595-18982-3
. p. 485, 488.
- ^
Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong; Henry Louis Gates.
Dictionary of African Biography
. Oxford University Press; 2 February 2012.
ISBN
978-0-19-538207-5
. p. 233?234.
- ^
a
b
Ruth Cyr.
Twentieth Century Africa
. iUniverse; 2001.
ISBN
978-0-595-18982-3
. p. 488.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Alan Murphy; Kate Armstrong; James Bainbridge.
Lonely Planet Southern Africa
. Lonely Planet; 2010.
ISBN
978-1-74059-545-2
. p. 592.
- ^
a
b
c
Lobamba: Attractions.
The Kingdom of Swaziland. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^
Lobamba Police Station
. The Royal Swaziland Police Service. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^
Brief History.
The Royal Swaziland Police Service. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^
Ndzimandze, Mbongiseni (September 12, 2009).
"Lobamba National High snatches investment challenge"
.
Weekend Observer
. Accessed April 7, 2014.
- ^
Lobamba, Swaziland
.
Travel Math. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ^
South Africa
. Rough Guides; 2002.
ISBN
978-1-85828-853-6
. Ncwala and Umhlanga ceremonies. p. 801.
- ^
a
b
c
"National Museum"
. Swaziland National Trust Commission. Accessed April 7, 2014.
- ^
Alan Murphy; Kate Armstrong; James Bainbridge.
Lonely Planet Southern Africa
. Lonely Planet; 2010.
ISBN
978-1-74059-545-2
. p. 584.
- ^
James Bainbridge.
South Africa Lesotho and Swaziland
. Lonely Planet; 15 September 2010.
ISBN
978-1-74220-375-1
. p. 588.
- ^
James Bainbridge.
South Africa Lesotho and Swaziland
. Lonely Planet; 15 September 2010.
ISBN
978-1-74220-375-1
. p. 613.
- ^
"Ncwala and Umhlanga ceremonies." In
South Africa
. Rough Guides; 2002.
ISBN
978-1-85828-853-6
. p. 805.
- ^
Incwala
The Kingdom of Swaziland. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
Further reading
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for
Lobamba
.
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