Eswatini’s flag has a black-and-white Nguni shield covering two spears. The shield is centered on the broad red band between narrow yellow borders and blue outer bands.
The design reflects Eswatini’s military traditions. It is based on a military flag presented by King Sobhuza II to the Swazi Pioneer Corps in 1941. The flag was adopted on 6 October 1968, shortly after independence from the United Kingdom.
The shield represents protection, while the spears symbolize defense. A staff with feather tassels, known as injobo, also appears behind the shield. The red band recalls past battles, blue represents peace and stability, and yellow signifies the country’s resources.
A common mix-up is the country’s former name: Eswatini was officially called Swaziland until 2018. The flag itself remained recognizable, though some modern versions use black tassels and white spears to better match traditional imagery.