She loves rap music, is studying for a degree in drama, and has worked part-time as a model.
But Sikhanyiso Dlamini isn’t just another student at Biola University in Los Angeles; she’s the senior princess of Swaziland, Africa’s only absolute monarchy.
“Here in the U.S. I feel exotic,” Sikhanyiso tells Metro. “The King wanted me to go to university in the United States. He wanted me to attend Columbia University, but my mother voted for Biola.”
The 22-year-old Princess, ranked 20 on Forbes’ list of the world’s hottest young royals, has a certain rebellious streak. In 2004, she hosted a party on the eve of the traditional reed dance, when thousands of unmarried Swazi girls perform ritual topless dances in front of the royal family. (Young women travel from other countries to dance, too.)
Unfortunately for the princess, the party featured both alcohol and loud music, offenses for which royal officials beat her with a stick.
Today, Her Royal Highness plays loud music every day — and performs it. “When I’m not in class, I basically play all day,” Sikhanyiso says. “I’m really into rap music and multimedia, and Los Angeles is the place to be for that.”
Sikhanyiso’s father is King Mswati III, who has 23 children with his 14 wives. Mswati has led the kingdom, located inside South Africa, since 1986, when he succeeded his father, King Subhuza II, at age 18.
“In Swaziland I dislike the fact that there’s so much pressure on me,” says Princess Sikhanyiso. “I love it when people come and ask me for help. Of course, the good part about being a princess is that I have a voice and access to anything I want.”
The same goes for the King, who dons traditional garb for Swazi rituals but favours elegant suits. His wives often travel abroad to shop. Last year, a group of them spent $6 million on such a trip.
After graduating from Biola University, Princess Sikhanyiso plans to return to Swaziland. “I want to create a multi-media center at home, because our country doesn’t have any place that teaches things like film, dance, photography and music.
“In the longer run, I want to create a film industry in Swaziland. We have so much talent, but people are stuck in low-paying jobs.”
But she will miss the United States, where she moved after attending secondary school in England.
“I’m not the dating type; I’m the marrying type,” she explains. “I’m not ready to marry, but American men would be a good reason to stay here. And people here are like me. I’ve always felt like an outsider, even in Swaziland.”
