swati

Swati is a term that can refer to the Swati people, an ethnic group in Southern Africa, and to the siSwati language they speak. The Swati are concentrated in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and in neighboring parts of South Africa, notably Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. In English usage, Swati and Swazi are often used interchangeably, but siSwati is the language name.

siSwati, also called Swati, is a Bantu language of the Nguni subgroup. It is one of the official languages of Eswatini and one of the 11 official languages of South Africa. The language is written with the Latin alphabet and uses tone to distinguish meaning, a common feature of Nguni languages.

The Swati form the majority ethnic group in Eswatini and have a long-standing cultural heritage. Traditional ceremonies such as the Umhlanga (reed dance) and the Incwala (first fruits festival) remain important expressions of Swati identity, alongside contemporary music, art, and crafts. Swati communities are diverse, with regional dialects and local customs reflected across the country and nearby regions.

In modern usage, Swati, Swazi, and siSwati appear in government, education, and media to designate the people, language, and nation. As a linguistic and cultural group, the Swati are a key part of the broader history and ethnography of Southern Africa.