| Border: | monarchy |
| Royal Title: | iNgwenyama |
| Realm: | Eswatini |
| Type: | other |
| Coatofarms: | Coat of arms of Eswatini.svg |
| Coatofarms Article: | Coat of arms of Eswatini |
| Residence: | Lozitha Palace, Lobamba, Eswatini |
| Incumbent: | Mswati III |
| Incumbentsince: | 25 April 1986 |
| His/Her: | His |
| Heir Apparent: | None declared |
| First Monarch: | Mkhulunkosi |
iNgwenyama (pl. tiNgewnyama, also Ingwenyama or Inkosi) is the title of the male monarch of Eswatini. In English, the title is sometimes translated as King of Eswatini. The iNgwenyama reigns together with the Ndlovukazi, a spiritual leadership position held by the iNgwenyama's mother or another female royal of high status.[1] [2]
The current king is Mswati III, who has reigned since 1986. The annual budget allocated to the King and the royal household amounts to $61 million.[3] [4]
Ingwenyama means "Lion" in Swazi but in an honorific sense (akin to Arabic equivalent word, sayyid), as opposed to libhubesi, used to refer to lions in the literal sense. The title is sometimes written Ingwenyama, iNgwenyama, or ingweinyama, with the prefix i- (plural ti-, tiNgweniyama), meaning "the king".
The iNgweinyama owns all minerals in Eswatini except for those owned by private corporations. The other aspects of mining are also controlled by the iNgwenyama.[5] [6]
The iNgwenyama can appoint 20 (out of a maximum of 31) senators in the Senate of Eswatini and 10 (out of a maximum of 76) members of the House of Assembly of Eswatini.[7] [8] The iNgwenyama is also the head of the judicial system and the Chairman of the Swazi National Council.[9] Local officials that are responsible for the governance of Eswatini are either appointed by the iNgwenyama, or their superiors are.[10]
Other powers of the iNgwenyama include allocating land, initiating national gatherings, disbursing wealth, organizing social events, and taking part in rituals. The iNgwenyama has royal praise singers called griots. The griots appear at public events and sing about the virtues of the Ngwenyama. Any offence against the Ngwenyama or Ndlovukati or their property is considered a heinous crime. It is illegal to wear the ruler's clothes, use their medicines, or be within a certain distance of them. Adultery with the Ndlovukati is treason, and the Ngwenyama can exile any citizen for any reason.
During the Incwala, the Ngwenyama splits the sacred water to the east and west to signal the end of the last year. On the second day of the Incwala, youths gather special branches and place them in a special sanctuary. The Ngwenyama then sings with his subjects in the sanctuary, thus reaffirming their loyalty. Later the Ngwenyama lights a fire. The purpose of the festival is to secure the prosperity of the Kingdom of Eswatini.[11] The Ngwenyama is also sometimes believed to be the cause of violent rain.[12]
Sobhuza II played an important role in the modernization of Eswatini. In the past, the royalist Imbokodvo National Movement consistently won the vast majority of seats while political parties were legal, thus gaining total control over the government.[13] iNgwenyama Mswati III compromised the traditional tinkundla system, replacing parts of the system with modern Eswatini institutions.[14]
The iNgwenyama is traditionally succeeded by one of his male sons. The heir is chosen based on the virtue of his mother.[10]