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SPEAKER_02: Hello. From Wonder Media Network, I'm Jenny Kaplan, and this is Encyclopedia Wamanica. Today's leader ruled Swaziland for almost four decades as both queen mother and queen regent. Recognized by her allies and enemies alike as one of the most brilliant African rulers of the time, she transcended the typical role allotted to women in her society, helped protect her country from imperialist encroachment, and laid the foundations for an independent nation state. Let's talk about Lebotsi Beni Ndluli. Lebotsi Beni was born in 1858 into the Ndluli clan, a large and distinguished Swazi family. Her father, like many of the men in his family, was in the military. Very little is known about her mother. In 1870, Lebotsi Beni's father died and she became the ward of his brother. At the time, her uncle was a soldier in the resistance at the national court and brought Lebotsi Beni to live there with his family. Growing up in the palace, Lebotsi Beni learned the rules and customs of court etiquette. She was exposed to the inner workings of the political realm and the political issues of the time. She also served as personal attendant to the queen mother, who took Lebotsi Beni under her wing and taught her how to maximize her power and influence. Lebotsi Beni gained the reputation from a young age of being a woman of great intelligence, ability, and character. In 1875, Lebotsi Beni married and became the chief wife of the king of Swaziland. She bore him three sons and one daughter. The traditional laws of Swazi succession state that a king can only be succeeded by a son with no blood siblings. So none of her children were originally in line for the throne. But Lebotsi Beni wasn't having that. She used a combination of networking, favors, and legal wrangling to ensure her children weren't passed over. By 1890, her oldest son, Bunu, was named the future king. He was just 15 years old. Because the Swazi monarchy, though patrilineal, is technically a dual monarchy in which a son and his mother rule together, this significantly increased Lebotsi Beni's power. Bunu's youth also helped to concentrate the majority of power in Lebotsi Beni's hands. But Bunu was not on the throne for long before he died in 1899. He left behind six wives and seven children, three of whom were eligible to ascend to the throne. But when it came time to choose Bunu's successor, the Swazi elders couldn't decide, and instead deferred to the highly revered Lebotsi Beni. She decided on her youngest grandson, Mona, who at the time was only three months old. This allowed Lebotsi Beni to rule Swaziland as regent for the young king. In the first five years of her regency, Lebotsi Beni faced significant political turmoil and a succession of droughts that made the Swazi people restless. In Swazi tradition, the queen mother is responsible for the rain, so the droughts were considered a bad sign. But by 1906, Lebotsi Beni united her country by standing up to the British imperialists, who had ultimate control over Swaziland. During this period, the British had begun to systematically give away massive swaths of the country to white settlers, much to the horror of the Swazi people currently living there. The Land Partition Proclamation of 1907 left the Swazi people with ownership of only about 30% of their land. Knowing that the Swazi nation had little ability to fight the British juggernaut to get their land back, Lebotsi Beni came up with another idea, a fund to buy back the land from settlers and the British government. She stated, I felt I must lose no time. I told the council all our weapons had failed, and now with our own strength, we must set out with determination to buy back as much as we can of our dear little Swaziland. They all agreed to assist by voluntary contributions. Lebotsi Beni's sheer determination to beat back the British imperialists in the face of long odds became an inspiration and a matter of great pride to the Swazi people. Though it took decades, by the late 1960s, the fund had allowed the country of Swaziland to repossess over 60% of the land that had been confiscated and given away to the British. Lebotsi Beni held the role of regent until 1921 when her grandson was coronated. Lebotsi Beni died on December 5th, 1925, leaving behind a remarkable legacy and even gaining the begrudging admiration of the British oppressor. She's remembered today for her strong leadership and for her efforts to protect her country's land, sovereignty, and culture from foreign encroachment. Tune in tomorrow for the story of another leader. This week of Encyclopedia Wamanica is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. If you wanna keep learning about powerful queens, I highly recommend The Great Courses Plus course called Warriors, Queens, and Intellectuals, 36 Great Women Before 1400. The course highlights women from around the world who made their mark on history. There are so many incredible courses available on The Great Courses Plus streaming service. Learn from the top professors and experts. For a limited time, Encyclopedia Wamanica listeners can get an entire month for free. Check it out at thegreatcoursesplus.com slash encyclopedia. That's thegreatcoursesplus.com slash encyclopedia. Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator. Talk to you tomorrow.
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