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King Mswati III, the Ingwenyama (King) of Eswatini and head of the Swazi royal family hosted the Kyabazinga (King) of Busoga Kingdom, William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, for a special dinner at the Ludzidzini Royal Palace on Sunday, July 28.
Accompanying King Mswati III at the dinner were Indlovukati (Queen Mother) Mantfombi, Prince Bandzele Dlamini, Prince Sicalo, Prince Lindanikosi Dlamini, Princess Sakhizwe, Princess Temtsimba, Eswatini’s Prime Minister in charge of traditional affairs, several cabinet ministers, and members of parliament.
The Kyabazinga and his delegation wore traditional attire: a white tunic (kanzu) and jacket for men, and gomesi for women.
King Mswati III (2nd right) leading the Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV towards the entertainment area to watch traditional performances at Ludzidzini Palace.
His delegation included Busoga Kingdom’s 2nd Deputy Prime Minister Alhaj Osman Ahmed Noor, Arnold Nadiope, a prince and elder brother to the Kyabazinga, Minister for Kyabazinga Affairs Yudaya Babirye, Minister of Culture and Head of the Clans Council in Busoga Richard Mafumo, Finance State Minister Ivan Kiirya, Prince Wilson Nadiope, and Andrew Kawanguzi.
Also present at the dinner were the Honorary Consul of Eswatini in Uganda Quillino Bamwine and the Honorary Consul of Uganda in Eswatini Tobias Kamugisha.
After receiving the Kyabazinga at the palace, King Mswati led him and his delegation to the venue, where various traditional dancing groups performed different dances, including the famous Ingadla dance.
Other dances performed included Sibhaca, performed by men while holding sticks, Ummiso, performed by ladies while holding knives, and Umzingili, performed by men donning animal skins.
Ladies performing the Ingadla cultural dance.
Following the entertainment, King Mswati, the Queen Mother, princes, and princesses dined with the Kyabazinga at a special royal dinner in the palace.
After dinner, the two kings exchanged regalia with each other. King Mswati expressed his gratitude for the gifts he received, as did the Kyabazinga.
The Kyabazinga explained the meaning of each piece of regalia to King Mswati and thanked him for the invitation to visit his kingdom.
King Mswati said he was pleased with the Kyabazinga’s visit, noting that it would remind him of the strong friendship and cooperation between the two kingdoms.
“I ask God to bless you during your journey back to Uganda and also bless your country and kingdom,” King Mswati said.
Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope handing over a gift of a tunic (kanzu) to King Mswati III while Busoga Kingdom’s 2nd deputy prime minister Alhaj Osman Ahmed Noor (left) observes.
(L-R) Honorary Consul of Uganda in Eswatini Tobias Kamugisha, Prince Bandzele Dlamini, Princess Sakhizwe, Honorary Consul of Eswatini in Uganda Quillino Bamwine, Princess Temtsimba and Prince Sicalo during the dinner at Ludzidzini Palace.
Busoga’s 2nd deputy prime minister Alhaj Osman Ahmed Noor said the delegation from Busoga, led by the Kyabazinga, was mesmerised by the cultural dances performed by the various dancing groups.
He added that the strong relationship the Kyabazinga has initiated with King Mswati will benefit both kingdoms and Uganda as a whole.
Yudaya Babirye, the Kyabazinga affairs minister, said they learned a lot from the culture of the Eswatini Kingdom and that the two kingdoms would place more emphasis on promoting their cultures.
Richard Mafumo, the Minister of Culture and Head of the Clans Council in Busoga, said the regalia donated to King Mswati would spark the promotion of culture and unity of purpose in both kingdoms.
Busoga kingdom’s state finance minister Ivan Kiirya praised the hospitality extended to them by King Mswati and his subjects during their five-day stay in the Eswatini Kingdom.
On Monday, the Kyabazinga met the Abasoga who live in the Eswatini Kingdom at The Royal Villas in Mbabane. He was also expected to sign an MOU between Busoga Kingdom and Eswatini.