1096:
194:
celebrate the Good Friday over three days with singing and dancing. They have historically attempted to be apolitical, but in 2004 they campaigned to make
Christianity the state religion through a constitutional amendment, a move opposed by the King. The third politically influential Christian organization in Eswatini has been the Council of Eswatini Churches, established in 1976 as refugees flooded into Eswatini, and this group voiced views on Apartheid in South Africa and the ongoing civil war in nearby Mozambique. Their views contradicted the state's position, and the leaders of this new Council were then threatened with arrests and prison terms.
60:
750:
229:
ritual, which is performed annually, is considered a national religious event. The objectives of the event are to reflect the growth of the king, and to thank the ancestors for good harvests and to pray for good rain in the coming year. This event, which only takes place when there is a king, is the
193:
The
Christian organizations of Eswatini have been closely involved in the politics of the country. The colonial era Swaziland League of African Churches has had a long relationship with the royalty of Eswatini, and held public ceremonies such as Easter on the behalf of the King. The Zionist churches
189:
The
Christianity followed by Swazi people incorporates rituals, singing, dancing and iconography of the traditional Swazi religion. According to Sibongile Nxumalo, the Christian missionaries that ignored or misconstrued "the positive aspects of traditional beliefs, customs and institutions of Swazi
157:
invited
Methodist Christian missionaries to his kingdom in 1825. The first church to be established in the country was the Methodist Wesleyan Mission was established in Mahamba in 1844. The Christian missions largely failed through 1881, and had few conversions to their credit. A larger presence of
210:
which are more relevant in day-to-day life. Beasts are slaughtered and beer was brewed to please (propitiate) the spirits, and ask for help. The rituals are performed at the level of family associated with birth, death and marriage. Some Swazis blend these traditions with contemporary
Christian
254:
are largely immigrants located in urban areas. According to the US State department, Islam forms about 2% of the population, while 2% of the population is Muslim according to the CIA World
Factbook, and the Official Government state it is less than 0.2%. The Muslims in Eswatini are formerly
165:
A Gothic-style church, which was built in 1912, still stands in
Mahamba, and is the oldest existing place of worship in the country. A large Catholic presence, including churches, schools, and other infrastructure, exists in the country. The country forms a single diocese – the
111:
According to the US State
Department religious freedom report of 2022, local religious leaders estimate that 90% of Eswatini's population is Christian (including 20% Catholic), 2% are Muslim, while under 10% belong to other religious groups.
119:, in 2020 the distribution was 40% Zionist, 20% Catholic, other Christians (including Anglican, Methodist, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness) 30%, 2% Muslim and 8% other religions (including Baháʼí, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous, Jewish).
158:
missionaries began in 1881 when members of the United
Society arrived to establish the presence of the Church of England. Lutherans arrived in 1887 from Germany, and Methodists restarted their efforts in 1895 out of their
1632:
122:
According to Pew
Research, in 2012, over 88% of the total 1.2 million population of Eswatini expressed Christianity to be their faith, while over 0.2% express no affiliation.
174:, which blend Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship, and were developed in the early part of the 19th century, predominate in rural areas. Christian holidays such as
1291:
230:
most sacred national event and all male Swazis are participant. The holiday for incwala depends on the phases of the moon, and is at the end of the six-week event.
202:
The traditional Swazi religion recognizes a supreme God and creator, but more important are the spirits of ancestors. Swazi religion speaks of a creator known as
1619:
1612:
1600:
1353:
360:
450:
1070:
698:
1498:
1338:
145:
was elected Anglican Bishop of Eswatini; on 17 November 2012 she became the first woman to be consecrated as a bishop in Africa.
1488:
887:
580:
548:
489:
626:
1101:
858:
848:
330:
398:
1577:
739:
281:
600:
1588:
943:
853:
610:
1124:
1688:
1368:
1261:
1209:
1063:
923:
880:
821:
691:
1095:
962:
724:
159:
1134:
928:
865:
276:
130:
1669:
1651:
770:
1408:
1119:
190:
society" have largely been unsuccessful. More successful missions have adopted a syncretic approach.
1638:
1523:
1513:
1318:
1056:
984:
933:
918:
913:
826:
734:
684:
436:
93:
1528:
1413:
1348:
831:
364:
206:(he who was there from the beginning). Mvelincanti is too remote and so it is ancestral spirits
1645:
1508:
1468:
1453:
1438:
1393:
1333:
1154:
870:
669:
479:
1625:
1281:
570:
538:
1458:
999:
989:
948:
938:
816:
758:
648:
410:
1656:
1563:
1538:
1383:
1358:
1328:
1313:
1189:
974:
799:
785:
378:
481:
Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition
243:
8:
1606:
1572:
1548:
1518:
1503:
1483:
1473:
1463:
1428:
1423:
1373:
1323:
1298:
1254:
1028:
979:
901:
811:
780:
775:
716:
509:
305:
97:
1558:
1553:
1493:
1443:
1403:
1303:
1239:
1214:
1179:
1149:
1144:
1079:
875:
167:
116:
59:
1594:
1533:
1478:
1433:
1418:
1398:
1388:
1363:
1308:
1266:
1229:
1204:
1159:
1037:
1004:
606:
576:
544:
485:
286:
1543:
1448:
1343:
1234:
1219:
1109:
994:
749:
171:
142:
82:
1276:
1244:
1199:
1194:
1129:
729:
225:
In the hierarchy of Swazi society, the king assumes the leadership position. The
134:
1249:
1224:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1682:
1114:
183:
78:
141:
constitute the majority of the Christians in the country. On 18 July 2012,
67:
28:
1271:
175:
843:
256:
126:
38:
1048:
838:
411:"Africa: Eswatini - The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency"
179:
154:
138:
86:
73:
676:
1139:
707:
247:
267:
In 2023, the country was scored 2 out of 4 for religious freedom.
1184:
251:
226:
220:
477:
239:
100:
and the government generally respects religious liberty.
361:"Country Profile: Swaziland (Kingdom of Swaziland) 2008"
108:
The statistics on religious adherence vary by source.
507:
1091:
532:
530:
568:
564:
562:
560:
358:
527:
306:"The 2017 Population and Housing Census Volume 3"
1680:
543:. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 241–242.
557:
536:
619:
1064:
692:
572:Routledge Companion to Christianity in Africa
503:
501:
473:
471:
469:
467:
670:Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08
186:are part of the national holiday calendar.
1071:
1057:
699:
685:
498:
464:
432:
430:
627:"Swazi - Religion and Expressive Culture"
478:J. Gordon Melton; Martin Baumann (2010).
448:
598:
594:
592:
442:
394:
392:
354:
352:
350:
348:
346:
344:
342:
340:
58:
605:. South Africa: ABC-CLIO. p. 384.
427:
1681:
1078:
262:
1052:
706:
680:
641:
589:
389:
337:
1102:Traditional African religions portal
439:, Pew Research, Washington DC (2012)
255:indentured workers who arrived from
81:being its largest denomination. The
63:A church in Bethel, Eswatini in 1930
21:Religion in Eswatini (2017 census)
13:
649:"The CIA World Factbook Swaziland"
233:
160:Christian missions in South Africa
14:
1700:
197:
1633:Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
1354:Democratic Republic of the Congo
1094:
748:
540:The Encyclodedia of Christianity
484:. ABC-CLIO. pp. 2769–2770.
437:Religious composition by country
663:
575:. Routledge. pp. 391–392.
282:History of the Jews in Eswatini
148:
47: Traditional faiths (0.5%)
451:"Religious Freedom Index 2012"
403:
371:
323:
298:
1:
1262:Traditional African religions
292:
569:Elias Kifon Bongmba (2015).
508:Christina Forsyth-Thompson.
7:
1414:Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)
1135:Traditional Berber religion
311:. Central Statistics Office
277:Catholic Church in Eswatini
270:
131:indigenous African churches
103:
94:Constitution of the Kingdom
10:
1705:
1670:African diaspora religions
218:
214:
85:of Eswatini is officially
1666:
1571:
1290:
1120:Ancient Egyptian religion
1086:
1022:
970:
961:
909:
900:
807:
798:
766:
757:
746:
715:
399:US State Dept 2022 report
259:during the colonial era.
1339:Central African Republic
599:Kasenene, Peter (1992).
537:Erwin Fahlbusch (2008).
383:U.S. Department of State
359:Religious Intelligence.
510:"THE SHISELWENI REGION"
153:The king of Eswatini,
64:
1499:São Tomé and Príncipe
1489:Republic of the Congo
602:Religion in Swaziland
62:
1689:Religion in Eswatini
1255:Serer creation myth
514:Swaziland Discovery
263:Freedom of religion
98:freedom of religion
70:is the predominant
53: Others (2.8%)
1240:Malagasy mythology
1150:Bushongo mythology
1080:Religion in Africa
944:Telecommunications
740:2021–2023 protests
168:Diocese of Manzini
117:CIA World Factbook
65:
1676:
1675:
1582:other territories
1369:Equatorial Guinea
1267:Tumbuka mythology
1230:Lugbara mythology
1215:Khoe/San religion
1160:Dahomean religion
1046:
1045:
1018:
1017:
957:
956:
896:
895:
888:Political parties
881:House of Assembly
822:Foreign relations
794:
793:
582:978-1-134-50577-7
550:978-0-8028-2417-2
491:978-1-59884-204-3
287:Islam in Eswatini
115:According to the
1696:
1292:Sovereign states
1235:Maasai mythology
1220:Lotuko mythology
1110:Akamba mythology
1104:
1099:
1098:
1073:
1066:
1059:
1050:
1049:
1031:
968:
967:
907:
906:
805:
804:
771:Cities and towns
764:
763:
752:
701:
694:
687:
678:
677:
672:
667:
661:
660:
658:
656:
645:
639:
638:
636:
634:
623:
617:
616:
596:
587:
586:
566:
555:
554:
534:
525:
524:
522:
520:
505:
496:
495:
475:
462:
461:
459:
457:
446:
440:
434:
425:
424:
422:
421:
407:
401:
396:
387:
386:
375:
369:
368:
367:on 26 June 2008.
363:. Archived from
356:
335:
334:
327:
321:
320:
318:
316:
310:
302:
172:Zionist Churches
143:Ellinah Wamukoya
52:
46:
36:
26:
1704:
1703:
1699:
1698:
1697:
1695:
1694:
1693:
1679:
1678:
1677:
1672:
1662:
1581:
1576:
1567:
1286:
1277:Yoruba religion
1245:Mbuti mythology
1200:Isoko mythology
1130:Bantu mythology
1100:
1093:
1082:
1077:
1047:
1042:
1034:
1027:
1014:
953:
892:
866:Law enforcement
790:
753:
744:
730:Second Boer War
711:
705:
675:
668:
664:
654:
652:
647:
646:
642:
632:
630:
625:
624:
620:
613:
597:
590:
583:
567:
558:
551:
535:
528:
518:
516:
506:
499:
492:
476:
465:
455:
453:
449:US State Dept.
447:
443:
435:
428:
419:
417:
409:
408:
404:
397:
390:
377:
376:
372:
357:
338:
329:
328:
324:
314:
312:
308:
304:
303:
299:
295:
273:
265:
236:
234:Other religions
223:
217:
200:
151:
135:African Zionist
106:
57:
56:
55:
54:
50:
48:
44:
42:
34:
32:
24:
12:
11:
5:
1702:
1692:
1691:
1674:
1673:
1667:
1664:
1663:
1661:
1660:
1654:
1652:Western Sahara
1649:
1642:
1636:
1629:
1623:
1616:
1610:
1604:
1598:
1592:
1589:Canary Islands
1585:
1583:
1569:
1568:
1566:
1561:
1556:
1551:
1546:
1541:
1536:
1531:
1526:
1521:
1516:
1511:
1506:
1501:
1496:
1491:
1486:
1481:
1476:
1471:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1451:
1446:
1441:
1436:
1431:
1426:
1421:
1416:
1411:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1391:
1386:
1381:
1376:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1294:
1288:
1287:
1285:
1284:
1279:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1258:
1257:
1250:Serer religion
1247:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1225:Lozi mythology
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1175:Efik mythology
1172:
1170:Dogon religion
1167:
1165:Dinka religion
1162:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1140:Bono mythology
1137:
1132:
1127:
1122:
1117:
1112:
1106:
1105:
1090:
1088:
1084:
1083:
1076:
1075:
1068:
1061:
1053:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1040:
1033:
1032:
1024:
1023:
1020:
1019:
1016:
1015:
1013:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
971:
965:
959:
958:
955:
954:
952:
951:
946:
941:
939:Stock Exchange
936:
931:
926:
921:
916:
910:
904:
898:
897:
894:
893:
891:
890:
885:
884:
883:
878:
868:
863:
862:
861:
851:
849:Prime Minister
846:
841:
836:
835:
834:
824:
819:
814:
808:
802:
796:
795:
792:
791:
789:
788:
783:
778:
773:
767:
761:
755:
754:
747:
745:
743:
742:
737:
732:
727:
721:
719:
713:
712:
710: articles
704:
703:
696:
689:
681:
674:
673:
662:
640:
629:. Advameg, Inc
618:
611:
588:
581:
556:
549:
526:
497:
490:
463:
441:
426:
402:
388:
370:
336:
322:
296:
294:
291:
290:
289:
284:
279:
272:
269:
264:
261:
235:
232:
219:Main article:
216:
213:
199:
198:Swazi religion
196:
150:
147:
105:
102:
49:
43:
33:
23:
19:
18:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1701:
1690:
1687:
1686:
1684:
1671:
1665:
1658:
1655:
1653:
1650:
1648:
1647:
1643:
1640:
1637:
1635:
1634:
1630:
1627:
1624:
1622:
1621:
1617:
1614:
1611:
1608:
1605:
1602:
1599:
1596:
1593:
1590:
1587:
1586:
1584:
1579:
1574:
1570:
1565:
1562:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1552:
1550:
1547:
1545:
1542:
1540:
1537:
1535:
1532:
1530:
1527:
1525:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1515:
1512:
1510:
1507:
1505:
1502:
1500:
1497:
1495:
1492:
1490:
1487:
1485:
1482:
1480:
1477:
1475:
1472:
1470:
1467:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1445:
1442:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1410:
1409:Guinea-Bissau
1407:
1405:
1402:
1400:
1397:
1395:
1392:
1390:
1387:
1385:
1382:
1380:
1377:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1293:
1289:
1283:
1282:Zulu religion
1280:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1260:
1256:
1253:
1252:
1251:
1248:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1185:Igbo religion
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1116:
1115:Akan religion
1113:
1111:
1108:
1107:
1103:
1097:
1092:
1089:
1085:
1081:
1074:
1069:
1067:
1062:
1060:
1055:
1054:
1051:
1039:
1036:
1035:
1030:
1026:
1025:
1021:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
972:
969:
966:
964:
960:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
930:
927:
925:
922:
920:
917:
915:
912:
911:
908:
905:
903:
899:
889:
886:
882:
879:
877:
874:
873:
872:
869:
867:
864:
860:
857:
856:
855:
852:
850:
847:
845:
842:
840:
837:
833:
830:
829:
828:
825:
823:
820:
818:
815:
813:
810:
809:
806:
803:
801:
797:
787:
784:
782:
779:
777:
774:
772:
769:
768:
765:
762:
760:
756:
751:
741:
738:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
722:
720:
718:
714:
709:
702:
697:
695:
690:
688:
683:
682:
679:
671:
666:
650:
644:
628:
622:
614:
608:
604:
603:
595:
593:
584:
578:
574:
573:
565:
563:
561:
552:
546:
542:
541:
533:
531:
515:
511:
504:
502:
493:
487:
483:
482:
474:
472:
470:
468:
452:
445:
438:
433:
431:
416:
412:
406:
400:
395:
393:
384:
380:
374:
366:
362:
355:
353:
351:
349:
347:
345:
343:
341:
332:
326:
307:
301:
297:
288:
285:
283:
280:
278:
275:
274:
268:
260:
258:
253:
249:
245:
241:
238:Followers of
231:
228:
222:
212:
209:
205:
195:
191:
187:
185:
184:Ascension Day
181:
177:
173:
169:
163:
161:
156:
146:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
123:
120:
118:
113:
109:
101:
99:
96:provides for
95:
90:
88:
84:
80:
79:Protestantism
76:
75:
69:
61:
40:
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1573:Dependencies
1524:South Africa
1514:Sierra Leone
1378:
1319:Burkina Faso
1155:Christianity
1125:Baháʼí Faith
1009:
985:Demographics
934:Prostitution
919:Child labour
914:Central Bank
827:Human rights
735:World War II
665:
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643:
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513:
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444:
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325:
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244:Baháʼí Faith
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124:
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71:
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29:Christianity
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1529:South Sudan
1272:Waaqeffanna
832:LGBT rights
415:www.cia.gov
379:"Swaziland"
211:practices.
204:Mvelincanti
176:Good Friday
39:No religion
1668:See also:
1659:(Tanzania)
1646:Somaliland
1639:St. Helena
1603:(Portugal)
1578:autonomies
1509:Seychelles
1469:Mozambique
1454:Mauritania
1439:Madagascar
1394:The Gambia
1334:Cape Verde
1190:Irreligion
871:Parliament
844:Ndlovukati
612:0313032254
420:2020-10-26
331:"Eswatini"
293:References
257:South Asia
133:including
127:Protestant
125:Anglican,
1459:Mauritius
1087:Religions
1000:Languages
990:Education
949:Transport
924:Companies
859:Commander
839:Ngwenyama
817:Elections
759:Geography
651:. US Govt
180:Christmas
155:Mswati II
139:Catholics
87:Christian
1683:Category
1657:Zanzibar
1628:(France)
1620:Puntland
1609:(France)
1564:Zimbabwe
1539:Tanzania
1384:Ethiopia
1379:Eswatini
1359:Djibouti
1329:Cameroon
1314:Botswana
1180:Hinduism
1145:Buddhism
1038:Category
1010:Religion
975:Abortion
854:Military
800:Politics
786:Wildlife
725:Monarchs
708:Eswatini
271:See also
248:Hinduism
208:emadloti
104:Overview
74:Eswatini
1626:Réunion
1615:(Spain)
1613:Melilla
1607:Mayotte
1601:Madeira
1597:(Spain)
1591:(Spain)
1549:Tunisia
1519:Somalia
1504:Senegal
1484:Nigeria
1474:Namibia
1464:Morocco
1429:Liberia
1424:Lesotho
1374:Eritrea
1349:Comoros
1324:Burundi
1299:Algeria
1210:Judaism
1205:Jainism
1029:Outline
980:Culture
963:Society
902:Economy
812:Cabinet
781:Regions
776:Geology
717:History
655:20 July
633:20 July
519:15 July
456:17 July
315:15 June
252:Judaism
227:incwala
221:Incwala
215:Incwala
77:, with
31:(89.3%)
1559:Zambia
1554:Uganda
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1304:Angola
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1364:Egypt
1309:Benin
1195:Islam
1005:Music
309:(PDF)
240:Islam
1641:(UK)
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1344:Chad
995:Flag
657:2014
635:2014
607:ISBN
577:ISBN
545:ISBN
521:2014
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317:2021
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