Swaziland’s King Mswati the III has officially unveiled his 19-year-old new bride, Siphelele Mashwama.
Hlangabeza Mdluli, the Royal festivity overseer, confirmed the bride for the Swazi king. He also revealed that the new bride is currently in New York in the United States, where the King is attending the United Nation Assembly.
Mdluli told local journalists on Sunday that the king has officially made a choice of the new wife. Siphelele is to be king Mswati’s latest and youngest wife in terms of age.
Other of his wives include: Inkhosikati LaMatsebula, Inkhosikati LaMotsa, Inkhosikati LaMbikiza, Inkhosikati LaNgangaza, Inkosikati LaMagwaza (deserted), Inkhosikati LaHoala (deserted), Inkhosikati LaMasango, Inkhosikati LaGija (deserted), Inkhosikati Magongo, Inkhosikati LaMahlangu, Inkhosikati LaNtentesa, Inkhosikati LaNkambule, Inkhosikati Ladube and Inkhosikati LaFogiyane.
The 49-year-old king is said to have over 13 children.
It’s a tradition for the Swaziland king to choose a wife annually.
Last year, the Sherburne-educated King chose a new bride during the well-known Reed Dance ceremony, also known as Umhlanga).
The Reed Dance ceremony is an annual Swazi and Zulu tradition held in August or September.
The ceremony happens to hold for eight (8) days, would-be brides are publicly checked to ascertain that their virginity is still intact.
A few months ago, Mswati kicked against people filing for Divorce.
“In our culture, once you marry someone, there is no turning back. There is no word for “divorce” in Siswati, the official language of Swaziland,” the king added.
