Swaziland is a small, beautiful country in southern Africa. It is surrounded by the Republic of South Africa on three sides and by Mozambique on the east. Swaziland was formerly a British protectorate. It became independent in 1968 as the Kingdom of Swaziland. Mbabane is the administrative capital and largest town. Lobamba, a village, is the traditional, or royal, capital. Manzini is the major commercial centre.