King Mswati III recently unveiled his virgin bride after a week-long Umhlanga Reed Dance which began on 29th of August and ended on Monday 4th September.
Siphelele Mashwama (19), the daughter of a Swaziland Cabinet Minister emerged as the fairest of them all and caught the King’s eye to become his 15th bride.
King Mswati is well-known for hosting the annual traditional reed ceremony held in September or October where he gets to pick a new wife every year.
Thousands of unmarried and childless girls and women travel from the various chiefdoms to Ludzidzini to participate in the eight-day event, and would-be brides are publicly checked to ascertain their virginity.
Business Insider SSA looks at all the beautiful queens that the 49 year-old has married:
- Inkhosikati (Queen) LaMatsebula: “The Great Wife”
Ritual wife
- Inkhosikati LaMotsa: “La Madone”
Ritual wife
- Inkhosikati LaMbikiza(The Gospel Singer)
Married:1986
- Inkhosikati LaNgangaza(The Advocate)
Married:1987
- Inkhosikati LaHwala(The Wanted)
Married:2004
- Inkhosikati LaMagwaza(The Artist)
Married:2004
- Inkhosikati LaMasango(The high school dropout)
Married:2000
- Inkhosikati LaGija(The runaway spouse)
Married:2002
- Inkhosikati LaMagongo(The favourite)
Married:2002
- Inkhosikati LaMahlangu(The one that couldn't get away)
Married:2002
- Inkhosikati LaNtentesa(The fixer)
Married:2005
- Inkhosikati LaDube(The double-dealer)
Married:2005
- Inkhosikati LaNkambule(The young and restless)
Married:2007
- Sindiswa Dlamini(The Liphovela)
Married:2013
- Siphelele Mashwama