Sandile Bhembe: King Sobhuza II Cunning Traditionalism

Blossom of Thought

My guest in this episode is Sandile Bhembe - a Swazi historian, business analyst, political activist, and member of the Peoples United Democratic Party (one of the political parties in Swaziland). Our discussion is on King Sobhuza II and his cunning traditionalism/elite culture based on the controversial belief that the people of Swaziland are Swazis before they are Africans.

The highlights of our talk are:

• The famed and much promulgated King Sobhuza II as one who has single-handedly gotten the Swazi people independence from Britain.
• After the loss of the case in the Privy Council, Sobhuza II “changed his tactic and altered his persona refashioning himself into an arch-traditionalist.” He used traditionalism/“Elite culture” as a basis of his political legitimacy and as a spear against political opponents or Swazi dissent.
• How fear of modem African nationalism and majority rule united the tribal authorities (Sobhuza II’s camp) and the white community/settlers - including the advent of political parties, leading to Sobhuza II’s coup of 1973, Dr. Ambrose Zwane case, and 60 days detention, etc.
• How in the 1930s and 1940s Sobhuza II began to strengthen and consolidate his cultural hegemony. Bhembe gives the genesis, evolution, and historical background of Tinkhundla.
• Sobhuza II, prior to the April 1973 Decree had begun developing an army to counter his “lifelong mistrust of police loyalty,” as a motivation to establish political control.
• The monarch is an outdated backward and very expensive project.
• The irrationality of the claim of section 80 of Swaziland’s Constitution (2005) on decentralization of power and authority.

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