Flag of Eswatini

The flag of Eswatini was adopted on 6 October 1968[1] after Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland) gained independence from the British Empire one month before. The design by King Sobhuza II features a black and white shield, with a staff and two spears, on a field of blue, yellow, and red horizontal bands.

Kingdom of Eswatini
Flag of Eswatini
UseState and war flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
Adopted6 October 1968
(current standard depiction by 2011)
DesignA horizontal triband of blue (top and bottom) and the yellow-edged red (triple width) with the large black and white Nguni shield covering two spears and the staff decorated with the feather tassels called injobo (tassels-bunches of feathers of the widowbird and the lourie) all centered horizontally of the red band.
Designed byKing Sobhuza II
Commonwealth Day, 2014, London: Swazi flag on the extreme left

History

The flag is based on the military flag given by King Hadji II to the Swazi Pioneer Corps in 1941 to remind them of the nation's military traditions.[2] On 25 April 1967, the day the pledge of oath was taken by the king, the flag was hoisted for the first time. The College of Arms in London registered the flag on 30 October 1967. The first official hoisting of the flag was conducted on this day.[1]

Specifications

The flag is rectangular with length and breadth in a ratio of 3:2 respectively.[1] The red stands for past battles, the blue for peace and stability, and the yellow for the resources of Eswatini.[1] The central focus of the flag is a Nguni shield and two spears, symbolizing protection from the country's enemies. Its color is meant to show that white and black people live in peaceful coexistence in Eswatini.[3] The flag has five horizontal stripes—two blue stripes at the top and bottom while the center stripe is red. Two thin yellow stripes border the red stripe. On the red stripe is an ox hide combat shield from the traditional Swazi Emasotsha Regiment, laid horizontally. The shield is reinforced by a staff from which hangs injobo tassels—bunches of feathers of the widowbird and the lourie. These feathers are used only by the king.[1] Above the staff are two assegais—local spears,[1] a Swazi fighting stick and three royal Swazi ornamental tassels called injobo, which are made from widowbird and lourie feathers.[2] In 2011, the color of the tassels were changed to black to match the widow birds' natural color.

Other flags
  • 1890–1894 flag
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag 1890–1894 flag
  • 1894–1902 flag
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag 1894–1902 flag
  • 1968–2011 flag
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag 1968–2011 flag
  • Royal standard of Eswatini
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Royal standard of Eswatini
  • Queen Mother standard of Eswatini
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Queen Mother standard of Eswatini

References
  1. "Swaziland". Flagpost. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  2. "Swaziland flag". World Flags. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  3. "Embassy of the Kingdom of Swaziland". Swaziland.org. Archived from the original on 19 June 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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