Last Update: 12/12/2007

Profile of the Swazi People

The Swazi People are descendents of the Nguni people who migrated from central Africa several hundred years ago. The country is also known as KaNgwane and its people BaKangwane. While Christianity may be widespread, the tribal beliefs and traditions are still practiced by most Swazis. Approximately 80% of the Swazi nation consult traditional healers such as physicians, prophets, priests, herbalists and diviners. Zionists or the African Independent Church movement, has grown to gain a following of half the population especially among men. This movement has a strong emphasis on both Pentecostal gifts and traditional customs. It also includes polygamy, witchcraft and ancestor worship. Methodists were the first evangelical group into Swaziland in 1880. Since then other groups include the Nazarenes, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Assemblies of God and Evangelical Church. The first International Baptist missionaries began work in the city of Mbabane in 1983. Even though 80% of the population claims to be Christian, the church is in need of a revival.

The Swazi People

Swaziland is one of the few remaining Kingdoms in Africa, and tradition traces of the royal family back to the 15th century. After much inter-tribal conflict King Ngwane III led his people out of Mozambique, around 1750, and settled in what is now southeast Swaziland. Over the next century they assimilated many different groups and clans despite much difficulty with the Zulus. King Mswati II, 1840-1868, inherited a Kingdom that is twice the size of current Swaziland and was the last truly independent leader of the Swazis (Swazi means "people of Mswati"). Then pressure came from land-hungry white settlers especially during the "Great Trek" in which many Afrikaners left the Cape area and moved inland.

In 1894 Swaziland came under British control. As a result the Kingdom became a British High Commission Territory in 1907 and their land was partitioned. They were granted only one third of their territory-the part that was least suited to cultivation. The remainder is a small egg-shaped country of 17,400 square kilometers (6,705 sq. miles), (slightly smaller than the U.S. State of Massachusetts); with a current population of about one million people whose first languge is siSwati. There are as many Swazis living in South Africa as there are in the Kingdom itself. It has: four geographic regions that are situated like "shelves"; an altitude that varies from 500 to 4500 feet above sea level; a wide range of climatic conditions; it's capitol is Mbabane; a traditional and spiritual center in Lobamba; and , an industrial and agricultural center in Manzini. This country is surrounded by South Africa (provinces of Kwa-Zulu Natal and Mpumalanga) and Mozambique.

European settlers and missionaries exploited, repressed and culturally isolated the Swazi people at the same time they introduced them to Christianity. They presented Christianity in a ritualistic-white-culture format, rather than a Gospel oriented, culturally sensitive, and evangelical approach. Many Swazis claim to be Christians, but their true allegiance is more often to Swazi traditional religion (animism and ancestor worship). Many of the Christian churches, especially the so-called "indigenous churches", have introduce syncretism that accommodates mixing Christianity and traditional religions. Evangelical Christianity has declined since Great Britain granted them independence in 1968. However, we find the Swazis to be very open to the Gospel, as long as the approach is culturally sensitive and respectful.

The overwhelming problems of HIV/AIDS, unemployment, and the corresponding poverty are the all-consuming issues relative to evangelism, as well as, maintaining life itself in Swaziland. The unemployment rate is at least 45% and is increasing. Swaziland has a very high percentage (over 35% and second in the world, after Botswana) of the population living with HIV/AIDS, and it is estimated that one third of the population will die within 10 years. All of this, combined with bad governance is creating a spiraling sense of hopelessness for the Swazi people.