African Royalties

It has been a busy week for His Highness The Emir of Kano as he was at the United Nations in his capacity as Sustainable Development Goals Advocate appointed by The Secretary General, Antonio Gutterres.

Firstly he attended the extraordinary SDG meeting hosted by the UN's Secretary General at the SDG's headquarters in New York on September 22nd. During this meeting the SDG Action Zone goals 2030 where tabled and discussed.

His Highness was joined by fellow royals and Advocates, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians and Her Highness Sheikha Mozah of Qatar. He also attended the reception at UN Headquarter in New York.

On Monday September 23rd, He first attended a round table discussion with corporate council on Africa, with president of Islamic Development Bank HE Dr Bandar Hajjar, at the board meeting of ISDB whom he met before the meeting. Also attending this meeting were Their Excellencies President of Togo Faure Gnassingbe, President of Ghana Nana Akufo Addo, President of AFFB Mr Akinwumi AdesinaGov Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, and Business man Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

On September 24th 2019, he co-chaired the 17th Sustainable Development Goals, Achieving the SDGs in Nigeria: Pathways and Policy Options held by The Nigerian President H.E President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian delegation at the UN Headquarters.

He also met with Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands who was attending in her role as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA) was also celebrating her 10th anniversary in this role. Previously both royals have met on various occasion when His Highness was governor of the Central Bank of Nigerian and when Her Majesty visited Nigeria in 2015.

He attended the Breakfast Business interactive sessions held by US- NIGERIA COUNCIL for Food Security, Trade, and Investment in New York on September, 26th 2019.

His Majesty King Mswati III recently concluded his stay in the United States of America where he attended the 74th General Assembly.

During the course of the week, His Majesty attended a number of meetings including the UN SDG and environmental session.

On Wednesday September 25th, He addressed the General Assembly where he spoke about peace, conflict, climate change, poverty alleviation and the exclusion of Taiwan at the top of his concerns making recommendations on the action required of the UN body as a collective.

This year's theme was Galvanising multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion’.

During his speech, he urged all to avoid dictating how countries should be govern and impose their ideologies on other nations of the world as he noted that this is a great fuse to the current conflicts in various parts of the world and causes many inhumane sufferings. He has called upon the UN to act swiftly, discourage such behaviours and remind leaders that they are all equal, irrespective of country size and economic power.

On bridging the gaps and promoting collective action, he implore the assembly to play its role on taking centre stage on inclusion and participation of all Member States through cooperation, dialogue and reforming existing organs where needed. He noted that most current challenges such as terrorism, climate change, migration, transnational organized crimes and many others, could be effectively addressed without multilateral cooperation.

On the inclusion of Taiwan, he said was a crucial step in realizing the pledge Agenda 2030 of leaving no one behind will remain elusive and false if they continued to deprive other nations the opportunity to play a pivotal role in the UN affairs, as stipulated in the preamble of UN General Assembly resolution 70/1 adopted on September 25th 2015.

He also spoke about supporting African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Ae-Trade platform needing the full support of the UN as it would propel the continent towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He asked the UN to invest more in SDGs to help end poverty. He said this was necessary to build strong societies and social protection systems that would ensure the inclusion of special interest groups affected by poverty.

On setting up regional disaster funds, His Majesty recommended the setting up of permanent regional disaster funds to help cushion against the effects of natural disasters and set-up sub-regional humanitarian hubs that will be equipped to respond swiftly to disasters.

He also spoke about reassess allocation of development assistance and providing assistance to educators.

Following his address, His Majesty met with the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in private. During their private talks, the Secretary-General commended the Kingdom for its leadership in taking steps to tackle developmental challenges they faced and also discussed Eswatini’s implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN will provide strong support to the kingdom through its resident coordinator and country team to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in national planning processes. The local delegation has submitted that among the results of this support includes the poverty reduction levels, decline in the prevalence of stunting among children under five years, improved access to water and electricity in urban and rural areas and helping the country record, for the first time in 2017, zero cases of polio, disability and death from tetanus, whooping cough and measles.

The kingdom was also seeking support from the UN in establishing a permanent regional disaster fund. This is to help cushion against the effects of natural disasters, as well as at SADC level for a sub-regional humanitarian hub equipped with emergency response equipment, tools and skilled personnel to provide expertise, advice and capacity building to Member States. The strong relationship has seen the kingdom offer land for the construction of the UN common premises which host a state of the art infrastructure.

Later His Majesty also held bilateral talks with the President of the Republic of Ireland Michael Higgins, and His Majesty King Rukidi IV of Oyo Kingdom.

On Wednesday evening, in his capacity as the current Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), he attended a meeting of the End Malaria Council co-chaired by Bill Gates and Ray Chambers.

The meeting's agenda was to discuss the Council’s progress over the last year and explore the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

His Majesty Rukirabasaija Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Rukidi VI is amongst the African monarchs who joined World leaders on September 24th, at the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly under the theme: “Galvanizing multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion”, to push for concrete and stable solutions for the economic, social and environmental challenges facing our Planet.

The 27 year old monarch urged and engaged his fellow Monarchs to do more for Sustainable Peace and Inclusive Development.

On September 26th, he met with His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco on the sidelines, where they engage in discussions about Sustainable Peace and Inclusive Development.

In their discussions, they talked about the unprecedented challenges and threats to global peace, security and development that require a collective and higher level of international cooperation that leaves no victims or crisis behind especially the kingdoms/monarchies which are important permanent institutions.

First World Monarchs Summit 2020:

There will be a First World Monarchs Summit hosted in September 7th-11th 2020 will be convened under the theme: “Monarchs for Sustainable Peace and Inclusive Development”.  Its main goal is to build consensus and a collective response towards the pressing challenges and influence global peace, security and development. It will be a strategic and unique forum which will be uniting World Monarchs to discuss and work together on international cooperation, sustainable peace and development and to amplify the role and contributions of monarchs to global peace, security and development.

This International Summit will be reuniting the world’s reigning sovereign, constitutional and hereditary Kings, Queens, Emperors, Emirs, Grand Dukes, Princes and Sultans. 

Her Royal Highness Queen Mother Best Kemigisa of Tooro Kingdom attended the 8th Global Order of Dignitaries and Philanthropist (G.O.D) Awards hosted in Los Angeles.

The Oyo Queen Mother was awarded for a humanitarian work and her dedicated work and efforts in promoting Education and Women Empowerment both in Uganda and around the World.

The Oniru Kingdom and its surrounding areas in the Lagos State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has lost their monarch yesterday September 23rd.

His Majesty Oba Abiodun Oniru, the Oniru of Iruland passed away at his Oniru Palace, surrounded by his wives and children.

The 81 year old first class monarch was the father of Nigerian Popular On-Air Personality HRH Princess Tolu 'Toolz' Demuren and Former commissioner of waterfront, HRH Princess Adesegun Oniru.

Due to Yoruba traditions, no official announcement has been released. His Majesty's death will have an official announcement or confirmation from his palace and family only after burial rites have been performed.

This year's General Assembly week will be a royal studded event with many of our African royalties in town.

Hosted at the United Nations HeadQuarters in New York and usually beginning on the third Tuesday of September, this year's summit began with a special Climate Action summit on September 23rd, before the formal speeches given by heads of state and governments on Tuesday that normally draw the most attention.

Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, attended the United Nations Climate Action Summit on behalf of HM King Mohammed VI and as well addressed the assembly. Her Royal Highness is the president of King Mohammed VI Foundation for the protection of the environment.

Also attending the summit in his capacity as the UN sustainable Development Goals ( SDG) advocates was His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano. His Highness also attended the UN Advocate Reception in UN Headquarter in New York September, 22nd 2019 following a meeting which were called upon by the UN Secretary General Antonio Gutterres. His Highness is not the only royal advocate attending there is Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza of Qatar.

His Majesty Bayethe Mswati III of Eswatini is also in town. His Majesty is accompanied by Her Royal Highness Inkhosikati LaNtentesa and the royal princes and princesses. His Majesty will be addressing the General Assembly on Wednesday September 25th, in the morning.

Although not confirmed or knowned, His Majesty King Letsie III may be attending this year's assembly. Lesotho is set to addressed the assembly on Friday in the morning

Umhlanga didn't just take place in the Kingdom of Eswatini but also in Zulu Kingdom in the Republic of South Africa. In Zulu Kingdom it is known as Umkhosi Womhlanga

From September 6th-8th, maiden regiments as well warriors departed for KwaZulu Natal for the annual Womhlanga Reed Dance where they were too showcase their dances infront of their king His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini hosted at his eNyokeni palace in KwaNongoma.

Before his speech, his prime minister, former leader of IFP and cousin His Royal Highness Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi of the Buthelezi clan gave a speech. His Royal Highness spoke highly against the increase in gender, domestic and infanticide violence which has been plaguing the entire country.

He urged all especially men to do better and protect the women and children

During his address to the maidens and guests, His Majesty spoke about the Xenophobic attacks which have been occurring across the nation saying that he had received numerous calls asking for his comment on the violent Xenophobic attacks against foreigners in recent weeks.

He also spoke about rearranging and holding meetings with all involve including government officials on his return to Johannesburg.

He also called for unity and for his people to be cautious of the divide and conquer tactics that were used by colonizers.

Following his speech, the maiden presented their reeds and the festivities began. Various regiments from across Zulu land dance. They were led by their leaders as well as the royal princesses His Majesty's daughters.

The Queen Consorts also joined the regiments from time to time.