Senteni Masango

Senteni Masango, known after her marriage as Inkhosikati LaMasango, (July 1981 – 6 April 2018) was the eighth wife of Mswati III of Eswatini.

Inkhosikati LaMasango
8th Wife of King Mswati III
Reign2000–2018
BornSenteni Masango
July 1981
Died6 April 2018
SpouseMswati III
IssuePrincess Sentelweyinhosi
Princess Sibusezweni
HouseHouse of Dlamini (by marriage)

Life

Masango was selected to be a new bride for Mswati III during the 1999 Uhmlanga ceremony. They were married in 2000.[1] She gave birth to two children, Princess Sentelweyinhosi and Princess Sibusezweni.

Masango was a painter.[2] She auctioned off her work to raise funds for local charity organizations in Eswatini.[3][1]

Death

Masango was found dead on 6 April 2018.[4] She had committed suicide by overdosing on amitriptyline.[1] She died a week after the death of her sister, Nombuso Masango, whose funeral the king had reportedly forbidden her to attend.[5][6] Her funeral was held at the Ludzidzini Royal Palace on 8 April 2018.[1][7]

Press scandals

On 12 September 1999 an editor at the Times of Swaziland, Bheki Makhubu, ran a news story titled Fiancée A High School Dropout.[8] The story reported that Senteni Masango, who was engaged to the king at the time, had dropped out of Ngwane Park High School.[8] The story caused controversy and lead to Makhubu's arrest by the Royal Swaziland Police. He was charged with criminal defamation. He was eventually released on a $500 bail and had his passport revoked.

Makhubu was arrested a second time in Mbabane after he printed a picture of Msango and another one of the king's wives, who was wearing her academic gown, at a graduation ceremony at the University of Swaziland.[8] The headline contrasted Masango as "the dropout" and the other wife as "the graduate." After refusing to issue an apology, Makhubu was fired from the Times.[3]

Another press scandal occurred after Masango's death. Photographs of her vigil and funeral at the royal palace were leaked to the press by members of the king's royal guards. The guards were fined for the incident.[9]

References
  1. "Married at 18, stayed alone: King Mswati's eighth wife allegedly commits suicide : Evewoman – The Standard". Standardmedia.co.ke. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  2. "Who are the Queens of Swaziland?". Thisisafrica.me. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. "Swazi king's wife took overdose". News24. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  4. "King Mswati's 8th wife, Senteni Masango commits suicide following 'abuse'". Clubofmozambique.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  5. "King Mswati's eighth wife, Senteni Masango, laid to rest today". Face2faceafrica.com. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  6. "Wife of Swazi King Mswati III Dies of Overdose, Report Says". allAfrica.com. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  7. "UPDATE: Royal family announces funeral for King Mswati's queen". Mpumalangnews.co.za. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  8. Lewthwaite, Gilbert A. "Wife No. 8 proves royal pain for king; Swaziland: Of hundreds of dancing maidens, African monarch picks out a high school dropout. He loses face, and an editor loses his job". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  9. "Swaziland: King Fines Guards for Leaking Photos". AllAfrica.com. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
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