Ndlovukati

Queen Mother of Eswatini, officially Ndlovukati (lit. 'She-Elephant', pl. tiNdlovukati; also spelled Indlovukazi), is the title of the female monarch of Eswatini. The title is given preferentially to the mother of the reigning king (styled the Ngwenyama, "Lion of Swaziland"), or to another female royal of high status if the king's mother has died. The Ndlovukati serves as a joint head of state, ruling alongside the Ngwenyama. When there is no king, the Ndlovukati rules as queen regent. The current Ndlovukati is Queen Ntfombi Tfwala, the mother of Ngwenyama Mswati III and wife of Sobhuza II. She was also queen regent from 1983 until 1986 when Mswati became king. The most notable queen regent was Ndlovukati Labotsibeni Mdluli who ruled Swaziland from 1899 until 1921 when she abdicated for So...