Mbabane- 18 Things You Were Not Told About The Capital City Of Eswatini

Mbabane is one of the two capital cities of the landlocked Southern African country, Eswatini. The city is located along the Mbabane River and Polinjane Rivers in the Mdimba mountains.

In 1902, the capital of the country was moved from Manzini to Mbabane leading to its tremendous growth.

Here Are 18 Interesting Facts About The City

1.How The City Got Its Name

When the British first came to Mancini( formerly called Bremersdorp), they met Mbabane Kunene a local chief who lived there. The city was named after him.

It is interesting to note that there is a river that shares the same name as the city.

2.Mbabane Is One of Two Capitals

Eswatini has two capitals, one is Lobambane where the royal family and palace are both located While Mbabane is the administrative capital.

Mbabane and Lobambane are located in the northwest corner of the country, historically, this was a defense mechanism from Zulu intrusion as the region had internal advantages.

3.The Capital Was Moved There In 1902

Formerly the capital was Manzini but it was destroyed by the Anglo-Boer war and ever since the administration was moved to Mbabane.

It also serves as the capital of Hhohho district, one among the administrative regions of the country.

4.Black Africans Were Not Allowed To Live In Mbabane

History periods are informative and give a glimpse into pictures of the past. Who would ever have known that there was a time when Black Africans were not allowed to live within the town?

When the city was first founded by the British, it was made up of shops, churches, and white settlements.

5. Mbabane Twinned Cities

The city shares affiliations with other towns worldwide to disseminate ideas, culture, and other prospects and potential.

Among its twinned towns are Taipei(Thailand), Fort Worth (Texas, USA), Mersing( Malaysia), Melilla(Spain), and Maputo(Mozambique).

6.Known For The Second Largest Granite Rock On The Planet

The Sibebe is a granite rock that is the second-largest monolithic rock on the planet after Australia’s Uluru, and the world’s largest granite pluton. It is located north of Mbabane and is a must-see site.

With a height of 3000 feet, the rock is over 3 billion years old and is the world’s largest exposed dome. The beauty of Sibebe is captivating especially after the rains, with rivulets of silver shining on its bare surface and its awestruck stance in the background.

It is best appreciated when one climbs it but one must be careful in following the trail while climbing. Exploring the mountain reveals the presence of caves, boulders, and forest clefts.

7.Presence of Mineral Resources

The growth of Mbabane is linked to the exploration of tin and iron ore.

8.Linking Mbabane To Other Areas

In 1964, a railway track was built to connect Mbabane with Mozambique, the railway was to be used in the transportation of iron ore from the Highveld region.

Mbabane is located at the intersection of the railway to Mozambique and Transvaal.

9.siSwati Is The Official Language

The official language is siSwati but English is also spoken by many people. Eswatini is a former British protectorate till it got its independence in 1967.

10.There Are Prisons In Mbabane

Before independence, there were no prisons in Eswatini, law defaulters were taken to Nyonyane mountain where they were dropped off the cliffs. Mountain Nyonyane also referred to as Execution mountain derived its name from these executions.

Mountain Nyonyane peaks at 1110m, it is a unique historical site as Bushmen once lived there and royal graves are also located there.

11.Education In Mbabane

It boasts of three universities: Water-Kamhlamba United World College, Limkwokwing University of Creative Technology, and one of the Eswatini National University campuses.

Mbabane is the seat of the health sciences of the Eswatini National University, it was formed in 1996. It offers Diploma and Undergraduate programs.

12.Snow Has Fallen 3 Times Since 1900

The climate of Mbambane is mild and moderate due to its altitude. Snow can fall but it has occurred only three times since 1900.

13.Umhlanga Reed Dance Controversy

Annually, young ladies perform the traditional chastity dance otherwise known as the reed dance wearing traditional garb, ‘virgins’ are presented to the king who chooses one as wife every year.

Following the scourge of the HIV-AIDS pandemic and its high prevalence in Eswatini, King Mswati III embarked on a chastity campaign for young girls but it was aborted due to tensions from his marrying a 17-year-old girl in 2001 that led to 300 young women laying their tassels at the palace in protest.

King Mswati III has 15 wives with over 30 children, he is known to have divorced some of his wives so far.

14. The Mgwenya Mine

This mine is located on the Bomvu ridge, northwest of Mbabane, and is spectacular in that it is considered the world’s oldest archaeological mine and has become a UNESCO World Heritage Center.

Mgwenya means crocodile derived from the crocodile shape of the mine before it was defaced in later years. The mine was closed in 2014 and attempts were made to reopen it in 2018.

15.Mbabane Is Capital To One Of The Last Absolute Monarchies

Eswatini practices absolute monarchies with the king maintaining absolute powers and vetoes every decision alongside the Ndlovukati, the queen mother also referred to as She-Elephant.

King Mswati III changed the country’s name to Eswatini upon its 50th anniversary and his 50th birthday in 2018.

16.Mbabane is Re known For Acclaimed festivals

The capital city is known to host some of the continent’s colorful festivals among which are the Reeds festival and the MTN Bushfire to showcase the beauty of culture.

17.Travelling To Mbabane

Traveling to the capital city is very easy as one can go by bus from South Africa and Mozambique or take a flight through the closest airport from Mbabane, Matsapha.