Great Wife

Great Wife is an honorific applied to contemporary royal consorts in states throughout modern Africa (e.g., Mantfombi Dlamini of Swaziland, chief consort of the Zulu King).

History

In ancient Egypt, the pharaoh's principal consort was known as the great royal wife. She presided over her husband's harem, and served a variety of priestly functions in the kingdom.

In Kush and the other African states of the pre-colonial period, the chief royal consorts often functioned in much the same fashion.

Great Wives today

The practice of creating great wives, with the most senior polygamous spouses of contemporary African royals often being referred to as their Great Wives, has continued to the present day. In addition to the queen of the Zulus, contemporary holders of the title include the numerous bearers of the Iyaafin chieftaincy of Yorubaland and the principal consort of the Ingwenyama of Swaziland.