World Cultures, per.7

African Country Speech Outline

 

Language

            English- official, government business conducted in English

 

            Swati – official, about 1.5 million are estimated to speak Swati.  The language is taught in Swaziland and some South African schools.  When speaking about the people, the term “Swazis” is used.

 

Form of Government

            Absolute Monarchy- a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign – such as a king, queen, or prince – with constitutionally limited authority.

 

            King- (ig-wen-yama) is the title of the male ruler or king of Swaziland. (ig-wen-yama) means "lion" in Swati, but in an honorific sense distinguished from -(bu-besi), the usual way of referring to lions as animals.  (miss–wati III), their ig-wen-yama, (king) is 40 years old, succeeded his father (70 wives and 1000 grandchildren) as king at 18, making him the country’s youngest monarch. 

 

National Holidays

            Independence Day- 6 September (1968) from Britain

 

Religion & Religious practices

            Religions- Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%

 

Economic Status

            Average income- $4,700, just over 1 million people, slightly bigger than NJ

           

            What amenities do they have cell phone, tv, sewer, water- 400,000 of the 1mil have cell phones, 12 tv stations, drought

 

Type of Housing