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Music of Eswatini

Isicathamiya and Mbaqanga from South Africa, Chimurenga mbira music of Zimbabwe, Malagasy valiha, Mozambican marrabenta and timbila.

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From Wikipedia

Swazi culture is the way of life and customs of the Swazi people through various historical stages. The culture of Swazi people involves music, food, religion, architecture, and kinship, among many other things. The Swazi people are composed of various Nguni clans who speak the Nguni language siSwati. These people mostly reside in Eswatini and South Africa. Presently, Swazi people may also include citizens of Eswatini. In Eswatini, one of the most visible features of cultural identity is the traditional political structure of the nation and the home. In the national level, the iNgwenyama is considered the head of the nation alongside the iNdlovukati who is the spiritual leader of the nation. National cultural events often involve the iNgwenyama or iNdlovukati. At home, the patriarch of the family is the head and often practices polygamy. This headman, usually referred to as umnumzane is central to all activities of the home. A group of homes forming a community and the land they reside on forms a chiefdom or umphakatsi. Several chiefdoms form an inkhundla which then belongs of a regional division of the country. This connects the older traditional leadership structures to more modern forms of government.

Culture of Eswatini on Wikipedia Text under CC BY-SA 4.0

Roots and traditions

Traditional healers

The Sangoma is a traditional diviner chosen by the ancestors of that particular family. The training of the Sangoma is called "kwetfwasa". At the end of the training, a graduation ceremony takes place where all the local sangoma come together for feasting and dancing. The diviner is consulted for various reasons, such the cause of sickness or even death. His diagnosis is based on "kubhula", a process of communication, through trance, with the natural super-powers. The Inyanga (a medical and pharmaceutical specialist in western terms) possesses the bone throwing skill ("kushaya ematsambo") used to determine the cause of the sickness.

Read the full article: Culture of Eswatini Text under CC BY-SA 4.0

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What Eswatini is listening to in 2026

This year's hits on YouTube YouTube's trending chart for Eswatini

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