The Swazi are an Nguni-speaking people in southeastern Africa, chiefly in Swaziland and South Africa.

Besides their language, Siswati, they speak Afrikaans in South Africa, English in South Africa and Swaziland.

More Swazi live in South Africa than in Swaziland since the 1800s European settlers, traders, missionaries and hunters moved into their area with the intention of making it their home.

The Swazi people are named for Mswati II, who became king in 1839.

Their royal lineage can be traced to a chief named Dlamini; this is still the royal clan name.

About three-quarters of the clan groups are Nguni; the remainder are Sotho and Tsonga descendants.

These groups have intermarried freely.

There are slight differences among Swazi groups, but Swazi identity extends to all those with allegiance to the twin monarchs Ngwenyama "the Lion" (the king) and Ndlovukati "the She-Elephant" (the queen mother).