ABSTRACT
The mfukwane are the sacred animals of kingship that have the tip of their tails cut off to brand them for work of kingship. Swazi speak of the pre-Incwala ceremonies as 'things that support the Incwala', and these reflect the stages of growth of kingship. The Incwala is also one of the economic weapons of kingship, since no one should eat of the new foods before the king nor plant spring foods once the ceremony is over. When kingship was an expanding concept, this was an effective approach, but the powers of the king are limited and checked, it is impracticable. The Incwala dramatizes actual rank developed historically: it is 'a play of kingship'. The first and foremost actor in this drama is the king; when there is no king, there is no Incwala. The importance of the sun and moon in relation to the Incwala ceremony hinges on their Swazi correlates.
