Dlamini (also spelled Dhlamini) is an African

clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...

and

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

, common in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

and

Eswatini Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa on all sides except the northeast, where i ...

. It is the most common surname in South Africa. Most people whose surname is Dlamini are also members of the Dlamini clan.

Genealogy and history

The Dlamini clan can be traced back to a man known as

Dlamini I Dlamini (also spelled Dhlamini) is an African clan and surname, common in South Africa and Eswatini. It is the most common surname in South Africa. Most people whose surname is Dlamini are also members of the Dlamini clan. Genealogy and history ...

, who was also called Matalatala. Matalatala is the source of all known Dlamini clan names. Xhosa: One of the branches of the Dlamini clan Zulu: One of the branches of the Dlamini clan Swazi: One of the branches of the Dlamini clan. Sotho: one of the branches is formed by Baphuti. Dlamini clan can be found in all of the ethnic groups of the

Nguni Nguni may refer to: *Nguni languages *Nguni cattle *Nguni people *Nguni sheep, which divide into the Tsonga sheep, Tsonga, Ngoni (sheep), Ngoni, and Swazi sheep, Swazi types *Nguni stick-fighting * Nguni shield * Nguni homestead *Nguni (surname: Hl ...

branch of Bantu people in South Africa and Eswatini. Dlamini clan praises differ depending on whether they are Dlaminis from the

Xhosa Xhosa may refer to: * Xhosa people, a nation, and ethnic group, who live in south-central and southeasterly region of South Africa * Xhosa language, one of the 11 official languages of South Africa, principally spoken by the Xhosa people See als ...

, Zulu or

Swazi Swazi may refer to: * Swazi people, a people of southeastern Africa * Swazi language * Eswatini Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked count ...

branch of the Dlamini clan.

Swazi Dlamini

In the early 19th century, the Swazi branch of the Dlamini clan's centre of power shifted to the central part of Eswatini, known as Ezulwini valley. This occurred during the rule of

Sobhuza I King Sobhuza I (also known as Ngwane IV, Somhlolo) () was king of Eswatini Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Af ...

. In the south of the country (present day Shiselweni), tensions between the Ngwane and the

Ndwandwe The Ndwandwe are a Bantu Nguni-speaking people who populate sections of southern Africa. They owe their name to one of their early chiefs and are also known as the Nxumalo. Today, they can be found in South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabw ...

led to armed conflict. To escape this conflict, Sobhuza moved his royal capital to

Zombodze Zombodze is a village in Shiselweni, Eswatini Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Af ...

. In this process, he conquered many of the earlier inhabitants of the country, thereby incorporating them under his rule. Later on, Sobhuza was able to strategically avoid conflict with the powerful

Zulu kingdom The Zulu Kingdom ( ; ), sometimes referred to as the Zulu Empire, was a monarchy in Southern Africa. During the 1810s, Shaka established a standing army that consolidated rival clans and built a large following which ruled a wide expanse of So ...

which was now ruling in the south of the

Pongola River The Phongolo River is a river in South Africa. It is a tributary of the Maputo River. It rises near Utrecht in northern KwaZulu-Natal, flows east through oPhongolo, is dammed at Pongolapoort, and crosses the Ubombo Mountains; then it flows nort ...

. The Dlamini dynasty grew in strength and ruled over a large country encompassing the whole of present Eswatini during this time. They formed the

House of Dlamini The House of Dlamini is the royal house of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Mswati III, as king and Ngwenyama of Eswatini, is the current head of the house of Dlamini. Swazi kings up to the present day are referred to as '' Ingwenyama'' and they rule to ...

, the reigning royal family of

People with the surname Dlamini include

Absalom Dlamini Absalom Dlamini (born 5 August 1984) is a Liswati footballer with the Royal Leopards and the Swaziland national football team The Eswatini national football team, nicknamed ''Sihlangu Semnikati'' (King's Shield), represents Eswatini, for ...

* Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, also known as "Doja Cat" *

Ayanda Dlamini Ayanda Dlamini (born 11 October 1984 in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal) is a former South African football striker. He currently coaches AmaZulu Reserve. Dlamini played for AmaZulu from 2009 to 2016. He had a brief spell at Bloemfontein Celtic from 201 ...

Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini Prince Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini (15 May 1942 – 28 September 2018) was a Swazi politician who served as List of Prime Ministers of Eswatini, Prime Minister of Eswatini, from 1996 to 2003 and again from October 2008 to September 2018. Car ...

Barnes Dlamini Barnes Dlamini is the president of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU). Barnes was unanimously elected president at the SFTU congress in 2009, after having served at its vice president for four years. Barnes is also the president of th ...

Bathabile Dlamini Bathabile Dlamini (born 10 September 1962) is a South African politician who was the President of the African National Congress (ANC) ANC Women's League, Women's League from 2015 to 2022. She was previously the Minister of Women, Youth and Person ...

Bheki Dlamini Bheki Dlamini served as acting Prime Minister of Swaziland from 18 September 2008 to 23 October 2008. Biography Dlamini was 2006-2013 head of the royal office of King Mswati III Mswati III (born Makhosetive Dlamini; 19 April 1968) is the ''Ngwe ...

Bhekimpi Dlamini Prince Bhekimpi Alpheus Dlamini (26 November 1924 – 1 November 1999) was Prime Minister of Swaziland from 25 March 1983 to 6 October 1986. A nephew of King Sobhuza II, he was also the Chief of Nkhaba until his death on 1 November 1999. Dla ...

Prince Cedza Dlamini Prince Cedza Dlamini of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), otherwise known as Prince Cedza (born 24 February 1976), grandson of King Sobhuza II of Swaziland and step-grandson of Nelson Mandela, is a humanitarian, youth activism, activist, spokesman ...

Dlamini King Brothers The Dlamini King Brothers are an isicathamiya choir from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in Durban, South Africa.

* Prince Guduza Dlamini *

Jacob Dlamini (author) Jacob Dlamini (born 1973) is a South African journalist, historian and author. He is currently an assistant professor of history at Princeton University, specialising in African history. He has written four books about South African political and ...

* Jacob Zambuhle Bhekuyise Dlamini * Prince Jameson Mbilini Dlamini * Lutfo Dlamini * Prince Mabandla Dlamini * Prince Makhosini Dlamini * Malungisa Dlamini * Mandla Dlamini * Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, consort of

Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu (27 July 1948 – 12 March 2021) was the King of the Zulu Nation from 1968 to his death in 2021. He became King on the death of his father, King Cyprian Bhekuzulu, in 1968 aged 20 years. Prince Israel Mcway ...

, the late Zulu king * Maphevu Dlamini * Martin Dlamini *

Maxwell Dlamini Maxwell Dlamini is the Secretary General of SWAYOCO and the former President of the University of Swaziland Students Representative Council. During the so-called "April 12 Swazi Uprising" in April 2011, he and fellow activist Musa Ngubeni were ...

, president of the Swaziland National Union of Students * Mbandzeni (also known as Dlamini IV) * Prince Mfanasibili of Swaziland (formerly Mfanasibili Dlamini) * Mfanzile Dlamini * Moses Mathendele Dlamini * Mphiwa Dlamini * King Mswati III (born Prince Makhosetive Dlamini) *

Nhlanhla Dlamini Nhlanhla Dlamini (born 2 September 1986) is a South African basketball player with Vaal University of South Africa's Premier Basketball League. He is also a member of the South Africa national basketball team and appeared with the club at the ...

* Nicholas Dlamini, professional bicycle racer *

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma (; born 27 January 1949), sometimes referred to by her initials NDZ, is a South Africa, South African politician, medical doctor and former anti-apartheid activist. A longstanding member of the African National Con ...

Nkosing'phile Dlamini Miss World 2007 was the 57th edition of the Miss World pageant, held at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China, on December 1, 2007. Taťána Kuchařová of the Czech Republic crowned Zhang Zilin of China as her successor at the end of ...

, Miss World contestant *

Obed Dlamini Prince Obed Mfanyana Dlamini (4 April 1937, in Mhlosheni – 18 January 2017 at Milpark Hospital) was Heads of Government of Swaziland, Prime Minister of Swaziland from 12 July 1989 to 25 October 1993. Career He was later a member of Liqoqo (kin ...

* Phesheya Mbongeni Dlamini * Phinda Dlamini * Phindiwe Sangweni, born as HRH Princess Phindiwe Rita Dlamini * Queen Sibongile Winifred Dlamini-Zulu, first consort of

, the late Zulu king *

Sibusiso Dlamini Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini (born 1 September 1980) is a Liswati former footballer who played as a striker. He has been capped for Eswatini Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland an ...

* Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini * Sihawu Dlamini * Sindiswa Dlamini *

Siza Dlamini Siza Selby Dlamini (born 2 April 1976) is a Eswatini, Liswati retired association football, footballer who played as a striker. He has been capped for Eswatini national football team, Eswatini. He was also named a top 10 COSAFA Cup Legend. He se ...

* King Sobhuza I (Ngwane IV) Dlamini * Sotsha Dlamini *

Prince Sozisa Dlamini Prince Sozisa Dlamini of Swaziland (c. 1912 – 1992) was Chief of Gundvwini. He became the Authorized Person of Swaziland from 1982 to 1985 after the death of King Sobhuza II, and in 1983 was briefly the acting Regent of the country, after he de ...

Stanley Dlamini Major-General Stanley Sobantu Dlamini was the commander of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (USDF) from August 2000 until he was succeeded by Sipho Tshabalala in 2019. He originally joined the USDF in the spring of 1977. According to government ...

, commander of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force * Themba Dlamini *

Zanele Dlamini Mbeki Zanele Mbeki OMSS (née Dlamini; born 18 November 1938) is a feminist South African social worker who founded the Women's Development Bank. She is also a former first lady of South Africa. Early life and education Zanele Dlamini was born in 1 ...

, former

First Lady of South Africa First Lady of South Africa is the title held by the wife or most senior wife of the president of South Africa. The title can occasionally be used for the daughter or other female relative of the president. First ladies of South Africa Aparthei ...

* Zola, aka Bonginkosi Dlamini

References

External links

* {{surname, Dlamini Bantu-language surnames Surnames of South African origin