King Weds Young Girl as 14th Wife, Chooses New Bride Every Year | See Details

What do we call this, tradition or selfishness?

The reigning King of Swaziland Mswati the III has officially unveiled a new bride, 19-year-old Siphelele Mashwama, as his 14th wife.

According to Buzz SA, King Mswati’s new bride is the daughter of a Swaziland Cabinet Minister, identified as Jabulile Mashwama.

The young bride who graduated from Swaziland’s Waterford Kamhlaba World University College is currently in the United States with her 49-year-old husband, who is attending the United Nations general assembly, the royal festivities overseer, Hlangabeza Mdluli confirmed.

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Mdluli told local journalists on Sunday while the king was about to board his flight to the New York, that the king has officially made a choice of the new wife, MpumalangaNews reports.

In his words, Siphelele seems to be king Mswati’s youngest wife in terms of age.

Mswati III, who is also the Swazi Royal Family, is also said to have over 13 children.

According to information gathered, it’s a common tradition for the Swaziland king to choose a wife every year. Last year, the Sherburne-educated King chose a new bride during the well-known Reed Dance ceremony, also known as Umhlanga.

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The Reed Dance ceremony is an annual Swazi and Zulu tradition held in August or September.

In Swaziland, tens of thousands of unmarried and childless Swazi girls and women travel from the various chiefdoms to Ludzidzini to participate in the eight-day event and brides to-be are publicly checked to ascertain that their virginity was still intact.

The same king Mswati who calls himself ngweyama, “the lion,” had months back kicked against couples filing for a divorce, saying it was against the culture of Swaziland.

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”In our culture, once you marry someone, there is no turning back. There is no word for “divorce” in Siswati, the official language of Swaziland,” the king added.

The Swaziland officials went further to explain the king’s statement, saying that it was not a decree until he officially tables them, run counter to a recently submitted marriage bill by Swaziland’s attorney general that allows for divorce on certain grounds.

Divorce is not permitted under current legislation but a process called Kumbuyisela ekhaya, which refers to reuniting a married woman with her family, is allowed.

Picture credit: Facebook