Figure 1.--This is a rural area near Matsapha. The photograph was taken on March 29, 1975 which in southern Africa is the Fall. The 1970s was a transitionak decade in Swaziland and many other traditional African countries. We can see that here in the clothing. Most children were wearing western style clothing which looks to be school uniforms. The fourth boy from te left probably hs not yet begun school, but the second from the left surely went to school. Both are wearing loincloths. Footwear at the time was not common for children in rural areas and even today going barefoot is very common.

Swaziland is a small independent southern African kingdom set between South Africa and Mozamibque. The country is one of few remaining African monarachies. The terraine is mostly mountenous and plateau. Britain guaranteed autonomy for the Swazis in the late 19th century. The Kingdom was made a South African protectorate (1894), just before the Boer War, but never included as part of South Africa. Britain assumed the protectorateship (1903). Britain granted independence (1968). The Kingdom was essentilly an absolute monarcghy. Student and workers began to stage protests, demanding political reforms (1990s). King Mswati III decided with little enthusism to allow some political reforms and greater democracy. He has not, however, followed through with many of his commitments. The Kingdom's first constitution finally came into effect (2006). The political process is not, however, well defined. The King has not allowed the African United Democratic Party to register as an official political party. Talks between the government and progressive groups over constitutional political processes failed (2007). The economy is agricultural. The country exports livestock, timber, and agricultural products (sugar, cotton, and fruit). There are rail links to Mozanbique. The Kingdom faces a range of serious problems. AIDS is an enormous problem with huge economic and social consequences. Swaziland has surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

Geography

Swaziland is a small independent kingdom locatd in southern Africa. It is a land-locked state situatd between South Africa and Mozamibque. Except for the border with Mozambique, Swaziland is entirely surrounded by South Africa. The terraine is mostly mountenous and plateau.

History

Swaziland is one of few remaining African monarachies. Britain guaranteed autonomy for the Swazis in the late 19th century. The Kingdom was made a South African protectorate (1894), just before the Boer War, but never included as part of South Africa. Britain assumed the protectorateship (1903). Britain granted independence (1968). The Kingdom was essentilly an absolute monarcghy. Student and workers began to stage protests, demanding political reforms (1990s). King Mswati III decided with little enthusism to allow some political reforms and greater democracy. He has not, however, followed through with many of his commitments. The Kingdom's first constitution finally came into effect (2006). The political process is not, however, well defined. The King has not allowed the African United Democratic Party to register as an official political party. Talks between the government and progressive groups over constitutional political processes failed (2007).

Economy

The Swazi economy is primarily agricultural. Forestry and mining is also important. The country exports livestock, timber, and agricultural products (sugar, cotton, and fruit). The Title Deed Lands (TDLs) produce the bulk of high value crops (sugar, forestry, and citrus). Here we have substantial investment and irrigation, and as a result high productivity. Agriculture is much more important than suggesting by GDP data. The majority of Swazis (some 75 percent) are engaged in subsistence agriculture on Swazi Nation Land (SNL). Here there is both low productivity and investment. Manufacturing includes textiles and sugar processing. There are rail links to Mozanbique. The Kingdom faces a range of serious problems. The country has a low growth rate, well below many other African countries. The reason is not entirely clear. The high level of subsistence farming is surely at the heart of the problem. Another problem is a relativly large an unproductive state sector. AIDs is a major concern. It is an enormous problem with huge economic and social consequences. Swaziland has surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

Ethnicity

The principal ethic group in Swaziland is the Swazi (85 percent). The Swazi people are a Bantu Nguni-speaking people ith origins to the north. The Wzi are mostly found in southeastern Africa, primarily in Swaziland and eastern South Africa. More Swasi live in South Africa thn Sailand, primsrily becauseof Europen (British an Boer) encroahments on former Swazi territory. The languge is Siswati. The largest clan groups is Nguni (about 75 percent). The othrs are Sotho and Tsonga. These different clan groups intermarry freely. There are minor differences among Swazi groups, but Swazi identity essentially is recognized for those giving allegiance to the twin monarchs Ingwenyama 'the Lion' (the king) and Indlovukati 'the She-Elephant' (the queen mother). Non-Swazi ethnic groups include: Zulu (10 percent), Tsonga (3 percent), Indian (1 percent), Pakistani (1 percent), Portuguese (less thn 1 percent). The Indians and Pkistanis are a residual of the British Empire. The Portuguese are due to the location along the Mozambique border which was a Portuguese colony. Thre are also a few individuls of British and Afrikaner descent.

Garments

Traditional clothing is still very important in Swaziland. A wide range of traditional clothing is still worn in Swaziland, both as basic daily clothing as well as ceremonial attire. This reflects in part the continuing importance of agricultural, espcially the still dominant subsistence sector as well as the continuing poverty of the country as well as the continuing importance of tradition. Traditional Swazi attire is specific to gender and age group, and some items are only to be worn during specific traditional ceremonies, such as the incwala or the umhlanga (reed dance). Swazi boys wear both traditional and Western clothes. Babies wear only protective medicines. Todler girls might wear string beads. Toddler boys wear small loin clothes. Children as they grow older wear more clothes. Girls wear string beads and skirts made from grass or cloth. Boys wear loin clothes. t about 8 years of age the boys begin to dress more maturely. Loin clothes are tandard nd larger. Girls begin to wear not only grass or cloth skirts, but short cloth toga At this age they do not wear long togas. Unmarried young men wear loin clohes with bead ornaments. Young womem wear cloth dresses and their up, done in a small bun. The traditional dress of younger married men does not change much. Newly married women wear skin aprons and skin skirts. The apron is worn under the armpits. After the young woman has her first child, she begins wearing the apron over one shoulder. Wesern clothing is becoming increasingly important, especially for childrn. This is the general pattern throughout Africa. As the economy develops, Wesern clothing becomes more widely worn, except for ceremonial affairs. The children commonly war estern clothing to school.

Activities

We have noted different assessments of Sawi religious belief. One rport suggest that the most important religion is Zionist, about40 percent of the population. It has nothing to do with Jewish Zionism. It is a blend of Christianity with indigenous ancestral worship. Other religions include Roman Catholicism (20 percent), Islam (10 percent), and others (30 percent). The other ctgory is divided among many different faiths, including Anglican, Baha'i, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish, and others. Another report claim that the countryis more strongly Christian, preumbly classifying mny Zionists s Christians. They estimate: Protestants (35 percent), African indigenous (30 percent), Roman Catholic (10 percent) and traditional beliefs (20 percent).

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Created: 5:20 PM 2/27/2013
Last updated: 9:35 PM 5/23/2014