Image copyright AFP/Getty Image caption King Mswati III, centre, has ruled the country since 1986

There are not many people in the world who are able to change the name of a nation. But King Mswati can - he is one of the world's few absolute monarchs.

King Mswati III of Swaziland announced on Wednesday that he was renaming the country "the Kingdom of eSwatini".

The monarch announced the official change in a stadium during celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence.

The celebrations also marked the king's 50th birthday.

The new name, eSwatini, means "land of the Swazis". The change was unexpected, but King Mswati has been referring to Swaziland for years as eSwatini.

It was the name the king used when he addressed the UN general assembly in 2017 and at the state opening of the country's parliament in 2014.

He explained that the name had caused some confusion, saying: "Whenever we go abroad, people refer to us as Switzerland."

The BBC's Nomsa Maseko in Swaziland says the announcement of the name change has angered some in the country, who believe the king should focus more on the nation's sluggish economy.

Swaziland's leadership has been criticised by human rights activists for banning political parties and discriminating against women.

Lesser-known facts about Swaziland

Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy

A landlocked country, smaller than the US state of New Jersey

King Mswati III currently has 15 wives; his predecessor had 125

Has the world's highest prevalence rate for HIV/Aids

Low life expectancy with 54 years for men, 60 for women

More about the country

The son of Sobhuza II, who reigned for 82 years, King Mswati currently has 15 wives. According to official biographers, his father took 125 wives during his reign.

The king, known as Ngwenyama or "the lion", is known for his many wives and for his adherence to traditional dress.

Image caption The name change was announced at the country's joint independence and monarch's birthday celebrations

You may also be interested in:</s>King Mswati III of Swaziland, during their 50th independence anniversary, renamed the country “the Kingdom of eSwatini,” BBC reports.

Being an absolute monarch, King Mswati III does have the power to change the name of his country, as what he says is law.

He announced the name change in the stadium while the country celebrated 50 years since they gained independence and his 50th birthday.

The name translates to “land of the Swazis,” and the king has reportedly been using it to refer to the country for a while now, and even at the 2017 UN General Assembly.

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This post was syndicated from BellaNaija. Click here to read the full text on the original website.</s>Africa's last absolute monarch, King Mswati III, changes the name of the kingdom from Swaziland to eSwatini (the land of the Swazis) at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of its 50th independence anniversary.

King Mswati III changed the county's name during the country's 50th anniversary of independence. (Credit: Reuters)

At first glance eSwatini reads like the name of a Silicon Valley start-up company. But rather than an overnight success story, eSwatini is the name Africa's King Mswati III will change Swaziland's to overnight.

The King announced he was officially renaming Swaziland to the Kingdom of eSwatini at Golden Jubilee independence celebrations which corresponded with his 50th birthday on Thursday.

Swaziland was known as the Kingdom of eSwatini prior to being colonised by the British.

The announcement will create quite a job for the country's bureaucrats who will have to amend more than 200 references to Swaziland in the country's constitution, as well as change the country's currency — which bears the name of the Central Bank of Swaziland along with images of the King.

Internet domain names and number plates will have to be changed, as well as athlete uniforms such as those worn by the country's athletes at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

King Mswati III — who married his 15th wife, and beauty pageant contestant, Sindiswa Dlamini in 2013 — referred to the "Kingdom of eSwatini" several times in recent years including in an address to the UN General Assembly in 2017 and at the African Union, as well as other international conferences.

The King revealed the name change at the large independence celebration in the second city of Manzini, 40km east of the capital Mbabane.

The impoverished southern African nation — a member of the Commonwealth — gained independence from Britain in 1968.

He said the name Swaziland had caused confusion.

"Whenever we go abroad, people refer to us as Switzerland," the King said.

The King, who wore a red and black military uniform and rode in an open car into the stadium, said he wanted his country to have a name people could identify with.

Most of the King's subjects eke out a living in agriculture, often cultivating sugar.

There is widespread poverty in a country with the world's highest HIV/AIDS rate.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen attended the event while on a visit to a country which is one of the few to maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan rather than Beijing.

It is Ms Tsai's first trip to Africa since assuming the presidency in 2016.</s>(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – In a rare feat, King Mswati III of Swaziland has announced the renaming of the country as “the Kingdom of eSwatini”.

The King made the official announcement in a stadium during the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence which also marked his 50th birthday.

The new name, eSwatini, means “land of the Swazis”. The change reportedly was unexpected, but King Mswati has been referring to the country – Swaziland for years as eSwatini.

It was the name the king used when he addressed the UN General Assembly in 2017 and at the State opening of the country’s parliament in 2014.

Swaziland’s leadership has been criticized by human rights activists for banning political parties and discriminating against women.</s>King Mswati III of Swaziland, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, has announced that his country has changed its name to “the Kingdom of eSwatini” to mark 50 years since independence from British rule.

The monarch announced the official change on Wednesday in a stadium during celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence.

It is understood that the name Swaziland has angered some in the country, since it is a mix of Swazi and English. The new name means “land of the Swazis” in the local Swati language.

The change was unexpected, but King Mswati has been referring to Swaziland for years as eSwatini.

The king has referred to the “Kingdom of eSwatini” several times in recent years – even in an address to the UN General Assembly in 2017 and at African Union and other international conferences.

Mswati, who was crowned in 1986 aged 18, rules by decree. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and only candidates approved by chiefs loyal to the king can stand for office. The country has a population of about 1.3 million people.

The name change could mean the country’s constitution is rewritten, as well as changes for the royal Swaziland police force, the Swaziland defence force and the University of Swaziland.

After independence, Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, Nyasaland became Malawi, and Bechuanaland became Botswana.

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This post was syndicated from 360Nobs.com. Click here to read the full text on the original website.</s>King Mswati III, centre, has ruled the country since 1986

Swaziland's King Mswati III has announced he is renaming the country as the Kingdom of eSwatini.

The monarch announced the official change at Golden Jubilee celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence.

The celebrations also marked the king's 50th birthday. The southern African nation is an absolute monarchy.

The king, known as Ngwenyama or "the lion", is known for his many wives and for his adherence to traditional dress.

The new name, eSwatini, means "land of the Swazis".

The BBC's Nomsa Maseko in Swaziland says the announcement of the name change has angered some in the country, who believe the king should focus more on the nation's sluggish economy.

The country is Africa's last absolute monarchy, and in recent years demonstrators have called for a shift to democracy.

The son of Sobhuza II, who reigned for 82 years, King Mswati III currently has 15 wives. According to official biographers, his father took 125 wives during his reign.

While the official name change was unexpected, King Mswati III has been referring for years to Swaziland as the Kingdom of eSwatini.

This was the name the king used when he addressed the UN general assembly in 2017 and at the state opening of the country's parliament in 2014.</s>The king of Swaziland, one of the world's few absolute monarchs, has announced that his country had changed its name to eSwatini to mark 50 years since independence from British rule.

He said the move was also necessary to stop the country from being confused with Switzerland.

Meaning 'place of the Swazi', eSwatini is the Swazi language name for the tiny nation landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique.

Unlike some countries, Swaziland did not change its name when it gained independence in 1968 after being a British protectorate for more than 60 years.

King Mswati III declared the name change during independence day celebrations at a packed sports stadium in the second city of Manzini.

'I would like to announce that Swaziland will now revert to its original name,' he said, wearing red military uniform.

'African countries on getting independence reverted to their ancient names before they were colonised. So from now on the country will be officially be known as the Kingdom of eSwatini.'

The name Swaziland angers some citizens as it is a mix of Swazi and English.

The king said the name 'Swaziland' had caused confusion.

'Whenever we go abroad, people refer to us as Switzerland,' he said.

The king, who wore a red and black military uniform and rode in an open car into the stadium, said he wanted his country to have a name people could identify with.

The move has been mooted for several years, with lawmakers considering the issue in 2015. Mswati III has used the new name in previous official speeches.

The king, who was crowned in 1986 aged 18, rules by decree and has often been criticised for his lavish lifestyle despite the grinding poverty suffered by many of his citizens.

Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and only candidates approved by chiefs loyal to the king can stand for office.

The country, which has a population of about 1.3 million people, suffers the highest HIV rate in the world, with 27 percent of adults infected.

The name change could mean that the country's constitution is re-written, as well as changes for the Royal Swaziland Police Force, the Swaziland Defence Force and the University of Swaziland.

After independence, Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, Nyasaland became Malawi, and Bechuanaland became Botswana.</s>The king of Swaziland, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, has announced that his country has changed its name to the Kingdom of eSwatini to mark 50 years since independence from British rule.

Meaning “place of the Swazi”, eSwatini is the Swazi language name for the tiny state landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique. Unlike some countries, Swaziland did not change its name when it gained independence in 1968 after being a British protectorate for more than 60 years.

King Mswati III declared the name change during independence day celebrations at a packed sports stadium in the second city of Manzini. “I would like to announce that Swaziland will now revert to its original name,” he said, wearing red military uniform.

“African countries on getting independence reverted to their ancient names before they were colonised. So from now on, the country will be officially be known as the Kingdom of eSwatini.”

The name Swaziland angers some citizens as it is a mix of Swazi and English.

The move had been mooted for years, with lawmakers considering the issue in 2015. The king had used the new name in previous official speeches.

Mswati, who was crowned in 1986 aged 18, rules by decree. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and only candidates approved by chiefs loyal to the king can stand for office. The country has a population of about 1.3 million people.

The name change could mean the country’s constitution is rewritten, as well as changes for the royal Swaziland police force, the Swaziland defence force and the University of Swaziland.

After independence, Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, Nyasaland became Malawi, and Bechuanaland became Botswana.</s>The king of Swaziland, one of the world's few absolute monarchs, announced on Thursday that his country had changed its name to eSwatini to mark 50 years since independence from British rule.

Meaning "place of the Swazi", eSwatini is the Swazi language name for the tiny nation landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique.

Unlike some countries, Swaziland did not change its name when it gained independence in 1968 after being a British protectorate for more than 60 years.

King Mswati III declared the name change during independence day celebrations at a packed sports stadium in the second city of Manzini.

"I would like to announce that Swaziland will now revert to its original name," he said, wearing red military uniform.

"African countries on getting independence reverted to their ancient names before they were colonised. So from now on the country will be officially be known as the Kingdom of eSwatini."

The name Swaziland angers some citizens as it is a mix of Swazi and English.

The move has been mooted for several years, with lawmakers considering the issue in 2015. Mswati III has used the new name in previous official speeches.

The king, who was crowned in 1986 aged 18, rules by decree and has often been criticised for his lavish lifestyle despite the grinding poverty suffered by many of his citizens.</s>The king of Swaziland has announced that his country's name has changed to eSwatini.

The declaration by King Mswati III on Thursday was made during celebrations marking the monarch's birthday as well as 50 years of independence from British colonial rule.

"I would like to announce that Swaziland will now revert to its original name," the king said at a packed sports stadium in Manzini, the country's second city, AFP news agency reported.

"African countries on getting independence reverted to their ancient names before they were colonised. So from now on the country will be officially be known as the Kingdom of eSwatini," he added.

The tiny landlocked nation in southern Africa gained full independence in 1968, after being a British protectorate since the early 1900s. But unlike some countries, it did not change its name.

Meaning "place of the Swazi", eSwatini is the Swazi language name for the country.

The name Swaziland angered some citizens as it is a mix of Swazi and English.

The move has been mooted for several years, with legislators considering the issue in 2015. Mswati III has used the new name in previous official speeches.

The king, who was crowned in 1986 aged 18, rules by decree in a country widely seen as Africa's last absolute monarchy.

Since 1973, Swaziland's monarchy has banned political parties from participating in elections, although they are allowed to exist.

To run for political office, candidates stand as independents and if elected, they must be approved by the king in order to become a member of parliament.

The country, which has a population of about 1.3 million people, suffers the highest HIV rate in the world, with 27 percent of adults infected.

The name change could mean that the country's constitution is re-written, and could bring changes for the Royal Swaziland Police Force, the Swaziland Defence Force and the University of Swaziland.
Marking the country's 50th anniversary of independence, Swaziland's King Mswati III officially renames the country the Kingdom of eSwatini.