Bhunu

Bhunu (reigned as Ngwane V; also known as Mahlokohla or Hhili; 11 May 1876 - 10 December 1899) was the King of Swaziland from 1895 until his death on 10 December 1899. He was a son of King Mbandzeni with Queen Labotsibeni Mdluli. He ascended to the throne after a short regency of Queen Mother Labotsibeni after his father died.

His name meant Boer, named by his father King Mbandzeni at his birth in 1876 during intense interaction between the Swazi Kingdom and Dutch ("Boers") settlers.

On 3 June 1890, the 14-year-old Bhunu was shown to the nation before the year of mourning for his father King Mbandzeni was over. He was formally installed as King at age 19 in 1895 and was only 23 years old when he died in 1899. His royal capital was at Zombodze while the Queen Mother's residence was at Lobamba.

Bhunu became the king after the Swaziland Convention of 1894, a convention which classified Swaziland as a protected state of the South African Republic under President Paul Kruger.

During this time Swaziland had a partial Dutch administration in parallel to Bhunu's administration. An annual payment was made to Bhunu and Labotsibeni by the Kruger government from taxes collected and from contributions from concessionaires and taxes.

In 1899, the Anglo-Boer war began, and brought to an end the Dutch or Boer partial administration of Swaziland and hence gave way to independence. However Mahlokohla died on 10 December of that year while dancing incwala.

His death was hidden from the nation until the incwala ceremony was over. Bhunu was succeeded by his four-month-old son Sobhuza II and his wife Lomawa Ndwandwe. His mother Labotsibeni who had been very influential during his reign continued as queen regent until Sobhuza was crowned in 1921. Bhunu's reign gave way to a stable territory surrounded by conflicting states. Today Mahlokohla is named for one of the main streets, Mahlokohla Street in Swaziland's capital Mbabane.