Dlamini

Dlamini (Also spelled Dhlamini) is an African clan and surname, common in South Africa and Eswatini. It is the most common surname in South Africa. Most people whose surname is Dlamini are also members of the Dlamini clan.

Genealogy and history
The Dlamini clan can be traced back to a man known as Dlamini I, who was also called Matalatala. He is said to have migrated with the other Bantu people from the Great Lakes Region of East Africa during the Bantu expansion. Matalatala is the source of all known Dlamini clan names. The Dlamini clan can be found in all of the ethnic groups of the Nguni branch of Bantu people in South Africa and Eswatini. Dlamini clan praises differ depending on whether they are Dlaminis from the Xhosa, Zulu or Swazi branch of the Dlamini clan.

Swazi Dlamini
In the early 19th century, the Swazi branch of the Dlamini clan's centre of power shifted to the central part of Eswatini, known as Ezulwini valley. This occurred during the rule of Sobhuza I. In the south of the country (present day Shiselweni), tensions between the Ngwane and the Ndwandwe led to armed conflict. To escape this conflict, Sobhuza moved his royal capital to Zombodze. In this process, he conquered many of the earlier inhabitants of the country, thereby incorporating them under his rule. Later on, Sobhuza was able to strategically avoid conflict with the powerful Zulu kingdom which was now ruling in the south of the Pongola River. The Dlamini dynasty grew in strength and ruled over a large country encompassing the whole of present Eswatini during this time. They formed the House of Dlamini, the reigning royal family of Eswatini.

People with the surname Dlamini include

 * Absalom Dlamini
 * Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, also known as Doja Cat
 * Ayanda Dlamini
 * Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini
 * Barnes Dlamini
 * Bathabile Dlamini
 * Bheki Dlamini
 * Bhekimpi Dlamini
 * Prince Cedza Dlamini
 * Dlamini King Brothers
 * Prince Guduza Dlamini
 * Jacob Dlamini (author)
 * Jacob Zambuhle Bhekuyise Dlamini
 * Prince Jameson Mbilini Dlamini
 * Lutfo Dlamini
 * Prince Mabandla Dlamini
 * Prince Makhosini Dlamini
 * Malungisa Dlamini
 * Mandla Dlamini
 * Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, consort of Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, the late Zulu king
 * Maphevu Dlamini
 * Martin Dlamini
 * Maxwell Dlamini, president of the Swaziland National Union of Students
 * Mbandzeni (also known as Dlamini IV)
 * Prince Mfanasibili of Swaziland (formerly Mfanasibili Dlamini)
 * Mfanzile Dlamini
 * Moses Mathendele Dlamini
 * Mphiwa Dlamini
 * King Mswati III (born Prince Makhosetive Dlamini)
 * Nhlanhla Dlamini
 * Nicholas Dlamini, professional bicycle racer
 * Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
 * Nkosing'phile Dlamini, Miss World contestant
 * Obed Dlamini
 * Phesheya Mbongeni Dlamini
 * Phinda Dlamini
 * Phindiwe Sangweni, born as HRH Princess Phindiwe Rita Dlamini
 * Queen Sibongile Winifred Dlamini-Zulu, first consort of Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, the late Zulu king
 * Sibusiso Dlamini
 * Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini
 * Sihawu Dlamini
 * Sindiswa Dlamini
 * Siza Dlamini
 * King Sobhuza I (Ngwane IV) Dlamini
 * Sotsha Dlamini
 * Prince Sozisa Dlamini
 * Stanley Dlamini, commander of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force
 * Themba Dlamini
 * Zanele Dlamini Mbeki, former First Lady of South Africa
 * Zola, aka Bonginkosi Dlamini
 * Zola, aka Bonginkosi Dlamini