KUMASI, GHANA — His Majesty King Mswati III joined Ghana’s Ashanti royal family for the vibrant Durbar celebration at Manhyia Palace, bringing together royalty, tradition, and cultural diplomacy.
The King was accompanied by Inkhosikati LaMagongo, members of the royal household including Prince Mguciso and Princess Tsandzile, as well as senior chiefs and members of his delegation. The visit saw Eswatini’s royal presence warmly received by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, during one of Ghana’s most revered traditional gatherings.
Speaking at the event, King Mswati drew parallels between the Durbar and Eswatini’s own cultural calendar, including Umhlanga, Incwala, and the Marula Festival. He described such ceremonies as the living fibre of African identity and unity passed down from generation to generation.
“These are a celebration of culture preserved through the ages, now entrusted to us to vigorously pass on to our children,” the King said. “In a world of competing foreign influences, we must hold fast to these traditions, ensuring they remain the heartbeat of our identity.”
He further called for cultural modernisation and the formal documentation of customs to ensure they serve practical roles in leadership and lawmaking. According to the monarch, traditions should form the foundation of a nation’s laws rather than being displaced by imported systems.
King Mswati invited the Asantehene to attend any of Eswatini’s national cultural ceremonies, stating that the experience shared in Kumasi would be honoured and reciprocated back home.
“May the golden stool continue to shine, and may Asantehene and Eswatini walk hand in hand, preserving our heritage, modernising our traditions, and building a future where our children proudly carry our culture forward,” he said.
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