Eswatini

The struggle

Swazi land was carved up by concessions granted in the 1880s, leaving the kingdom with a fraction of its territory under a British protectorate from 1903. King Sobhuza II spent decades buying land back and litigating in London while keeping the monarchy central. Independence came on 6 September 1968; the country renamed itself Eswatini in 2018.

Key people

• Sobhuza II

  1899–1982

  King who led the campaign for land and sovereignty

• Labotsibeni Mdluli

  1858–1925

  Queen regent who funded the land campaign and education

• John June Nquku

  1899–1993

  Founded the Swaziland Progressive Party