Getting to know Swazi people

Having been to Swaziland , one can attest to the fact that the atmosphere in Swaziland is different than in other tourist environments. There's sense of belonging that engulfs one when in Swaziland . Swazi people, especially those from the rural areas, are warm and friendly even to total strangers. Sawubona (meaning 'greetings to you') is one word you will hear through your travels around the country. As they greet you, a Swazi will shake hands with you whether they know you or not. Swazi people possess good personality traits that make you feel like a part of them.

Swazis appreciate the nature that surrounds them. They depend on nature as a source for almost everything. They grow most of what they eat on the land, build their houses with stones, soil and wood and even store their food in naturally-crafted containers. The fire to cook meals is made from wood fetched from the forests. Some Swazis even make a living out of nature. The beautiful artwork they sell to tourists along the roadside and in markets in the urban areas is made from wood, grass and rocks.

Swazi people take pride in their culture. This is the vehicle they use to celebrate their uniqueness, heritage and show respect to one another. Through ceremonies like the reed dance and Incwala, they pay tribute on yearly bases to the king and Queen mother. As part of paying tribute the Swazi people weed and harvest fields belonging to the royal family.

For Swazi people, by virtue of their collective cultural traits, social institutions play a vital role. Personal decisions are made at family level, for instance when a boy child wants to marry, he consults with the elders. Family problems are solved at family level like in a case where the daughter in law (makoti) has a problem with her husband she reports to the elders of the family. Inter family problems are solved at community level and community problems solved at royal level. Generally their problems are solved at traditional set ups.

And so Swazis are best described as a humble people, a people who are content with the simple life and a people that live for the good of others.

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