However, Africa may not be known on a global scale about its monarchies as much.
Meet the royal families of Africa.
For thousands of years, monarchies have existed across Africa.
Today, most of the royal families in Africa have no political power at all.
Mswati III is the king of Eswatini
The current monarch in Eswatini is Mswati III.
Another more recent decision made by King Mswati III has come under fire, too.
The monarch changed the name of his country from Eswatini to eSwatini.
“If there’s any symbol of absolute monarchy, it’s that,” he added.
After this event occurred, a lawsuit was brought forth in hopes of preventing it from happening again.
“The palace elders never seem to realize how their actions are perceived outside.
They are isolated and arrogant,” she added.
Mswati III has also lost multiple wives.
In 2019, Nothando Dube, Mswati’s 12th wife, died from skin cancer.
She had previously been receiving treatment for the disease in South Africa.
A year prior, Senteni Masango, Mswati’s eighth wife, died by suicide.
The royal family member had reportedly struggled with living as one of Mswati’s wives.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Letsie III is a constitutional monarch, and therefore does not have political power like King Mswati III.
The prime minister is the chief political power in Lesotho, and King Letsie’s work is mostly ceremonial.
Leaders have praised King Letsie III for his commitment to ending childhood hunger in his continent.
The couple has threeroyal childrentogether.
Like other royal children across the world, Princess Senate and Princess ‘Maseeiso are public figures in their country.
Like her father, Princess Senate has become a champion of various human rights issues affecting Lesotho.
While her father champions the end of childhood hunger, Princess Senate champions the end of child marriage.
As Moroccan publisher Aboubakr Jamai toldThe New York Timesof Mohammed VI, “We really don’t know him.
We’ve never seen him in a situation where he had to answer questions, let alone hard questions.
He was always reading from a piece of paper.”
Though Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, Mohammed VI still plays an important role in its official business.
In 2002, Mohammed married Princess Lalla Salma, and in 2018, the couple got divorced.
Not much is known about Mohammed VI’s children, either.
As a source toldThe Economist, “He had to produce an heir, a crown prince.
He did his job.”
One such wealthy king is Otumfuo Osei Tutu II of Ghana.
Another wealthy king is Oba Okunade Sijuwade of Ile-Ife, a city in Nigeria.
Slijuwade is estimated to be worth at least $75 million thanks to his success in business.
Then there’s Oba Obateru Akinrutan, King of Ugbo Land.
Akinrutan is an oil-rich king whose net worth is reportedly $300 million.
Not all rich kings in Africa are powerless, though.
