Mbilaneni
Royal burial site in Eswatini
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mbilaneni is a historical site in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), located approximately 8 kilometres south of the modern town of Nhlangano in the Shiselweni District. It is the royal burial grounds of the Swazi monarchy.[1]
| Mbilaneni | |
|---|---|
| Type | Swazi royal burial site |
| Location | Shiselweni District, Eswatini |
| Nearest city | Nhlangano |
| Governing body | Traditional authorities |
| Owner | Kingdom of Eswatini |
The mountainous site is sometimes referred to in local oral histories as Mbilaneni I to distinguish it from other royal burial sites, such as Mlokotfwa Hill (Mbilaneni II),[2] where King Ndvungunye was interred after being struck by lightning in 1815[3] and the Mdzimba Mountain where Prince Ludvonga II is resting.[4]
Significance
Mbilaneni is the burial place of several prominent Swazi kings, including Ngwane III, Sobhuza I,[5] Mswati II, Mbandzeni, Bhunu and Sobhuza II.[3]
Royal burials at Mbilaneni are conducted with strict traditional rules. Bodies are initially placed in caves before being moved to the hillside under cover of night. The Mdluli clan serves as the primary custodians of the Mbilaneni royal graves. Historically, the Mkhaliphi clan were earlier custodians but lost this role due to negligence during a fire.
The first Mdluli person to guard the burial hill was Mbilini Mdluli, a son of Malambule Mdluli from Pongola.[6] A nephew of Queen Somnjalose Simelane named Khani Simelane married Mbilini Mdluli and their son, Senzenjani Mdluli (died.1944), continued guarding Mbilaneni.[6]
In July 2021, Mbilaneni made news after King Mswati III’s ritual cows, a herd of 30, fled into the forest at night while the royal family was preparing for a royal ritual ceremony at the Mbilaneni, requiring the deployment of military personnel to swiftly recover them.[7]