This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Swaziland: Ngwane and KaNgwane

Last modified: 2005-06-03 by bruce berry
Keywords: swaziland | ngwane | kangwane |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors



[Swaziland] [Variant] 2:3~
Flag adopted: 6 October 1968 See also:

Ngwane and KaNgwane

Swaziland was for some time also known as Ngwane, but an official name change was never carried through.
It was assumed that the three British protectorates of Bechuanaland, Basutoland, and Swaziland would change their names when independence was granted but the Swazi, apparently, were happy with their name.
By the way, there was a South African "homeland" called KaNgwane (where Swazi's also live).
Harald Müller, 20 Mar 1997

I think that 'Ngwane' is the SiSwati for Swaziland - wasn't the Swazi bantustan under apartheid called 'KaNgwane'?
António Martins, 20 Mar 1997

Correct - the KaNgwane homeland was for the "Swazis" living in South Africa.
This was the only homeland NOT to have adopted its own flag during the apartheid era and only flew the South African flag.
KaNgwane has been re-incorporated into South Africa and is part of the new Mpumalanga province and is an area which is adjacent to the Swaziland border.
Bruce Berry, 20 March 1997

Your commentary on Swaziland talks about the history of the name Ngwana, and the possible name change after independence.  The name Swazi is a corruption of the name of the first king, Mswati I, who brought a number of tribes together under his rule.  The current monarch is Mswati III. The name is used as a descriptio