FOR OVER 60 years the land had been peaceful, with a friendly people ruled by a kindly king. Then the king died. Almost overnight the peaceful country became the scene of suffering inflicted on a minority group known worldwide for their love of neighbor and respect for authority. Why were they persecuted? Because of their desire to live by Bible principles. Where did this happen? In Swaziland.

Swaziland is a pleasant little country of some 6,700 square milesa situated between South Africa and Mozambique. Green and mountainous in the west, low-lying and drier in the east, it has just over half a million inhabitants. The Swazi nation occupied the territory in the early 18th century. In 1903 it came under British rule but was established as an independent kingdom in 1968, ruled by King Sobhuza II.

This remarkable man achieved the distinction of being, in his day, the oldest and longest reigning monarch on earth, ruling from 1921 until his death on August 21, 1982. He was noted for his wisdom and discretion. With his country sandwiched between South Africa and Mozambique and their widely differing policies, he followed a neutral course. As a result, Swaziland remained a land of peace and growing prosperity.

The Religious Background

Like most African peoples, the Swazi have for centuries practiced ancestor worship. In recent times many missions and churches have freely operated in Swaziland, but traditional customs and ritual still play a big part in the lives of the majority. In the early 1930’s Jehovah’s Witnesses sent missionaries there to spread the good news of God’s Kingdom. Frequently these missionaries visited King Sobhuza, who invariably gave them a royal welcome.

In time, a number of Swazi people responded to the message preached by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Because they now obeyed God’s law as set out in the Bible, these ones could no longer follow certain non-Christian religious customs. This brought opposition from some chiefs, but the King would not allow Jehovah’s Witnesses to be persecuted. Therefore the Witnesses have good reason to be grateful to him and sincerely mourn his death.

On September 13, 1982, The Times of Swaziland carried this report: “The Governor of Lobamba Royal Residence has announced directives to be followed by the Swazi nation during the mourning period of the late King Sobhuza II. Councillor Vusumuzi Bhembe has announced in a nationwide radio broadcast that as a sign of mourning, all Swazi males must have their hair cut [head shaved bald]. . . . Married women will have their hair trimmed right round the head above the ears.” Pressure was soon brought to bear on those whose conscience would not allow them to comply with this decree.