Kingdom renamed

The king of Swaziland last week announced that his country has changed its name to the Kingdom of eSwatini to mark 50 years since independence from British rule. Meaning 'place of the Swazi', eSwatini is the Swazi language name for the tiny state landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique. Unlike some countries, Swaziland did not change its name when it gained independence in 1968 after being a British protectorate for more than 60 years. The Guardian reports that King Mswati III declared the name change during independence day celebrations in Manzini. The report notes that the name Swaziland angers some citizens as it is a mix of Swazi and English. The issue has been addressed by lawmakers for several years.