Chocolate Chick Special Edition: "African Royalty, Black European Royals & Nobility" (Part One)

Royal and Noble ranks:

Emperor & Empress

King & Queen

Viceroy & Vicereine

Archduke & Archduchess

Infante & Infanta

Grand Duke & Grand Duchess

Grand Prince & Grand Princess

Duke & Duchess

Prince & Princess

Marquess & Marchioness

Marquis & Marquise

Margrave & Margravine

Count & Countess

Earl & Countess

Viscount & Viscountess

Baron & Baroness

Freiherr & Freifrau

Baronet & Baronetess

Hereditary Knight, Ritter

Knight & Dame

Nobile, Edler von

The media loves to report and dish on royal families.. yet there are rarely any profiles or stories in mainstream media that focuses on African Royalty or Blacks in European royalty.

I will extend even further and say nothing is even reported about people of color who hold noble titles.

African Kings, Queens, princes, princesses etc. African royalty exists, as does blacks in European royal houses, yet they are not highlighted in media. It is such a shame that the media fails to highlight these royal families.

As young girls we dreamed about a prince sweeping us off our feet and becoming a princess and watched "Cinderella" too many times to count. Well it's not just a "fairy tale" for some... it's reality.

This is such a fabulous post if I do say so myself! :D


Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen From Disney's "The Princess & The Frog"

So now on to a few of the who's who in African and/or Black Royalty & Nobility:

Prince Kunle Omilana, Princess Keisha Omilana and son Prince Diran

Essence interview with Princess Omilana:

We caught up with model and philanthropist Princess Keisha Omilana, wife of Prince Kunle Omilana of Nigeria, to find out what it takes to be a real-life Black American Princess (the good kind), her over-the-top royal wedding, and how she met her royal boo!

ESSENCE.com: How did you meet your husband?
PRINCESS KEISHA OMILANA: I got lost on my way to a model casting. I was on the phone with my agent trying to find the right address. He was in a meeting at the W and he saw me outside. He excused himself from the table, came out to meet me, and waited 45 minutes to say, "you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my entire life. Would you do me the honor of having your number? "

ESSENCE.com: So clearly you gave it to him.
PRINCESS KEISHA: No! Well, not at first. Who gives their number out to a guy on the street? I told him I was dating someone and left to catch the train, but I was halfway down the steps and my women's intuition said, "you know what? You're not dating anybody and he was cute!" I figured if I went back and he was still there, it was meant to be. I went back and there he was waiting like he knew I was coming back.

ESSENCE.com: When did you find out he was a prince?
PRINCESS KEISHA: Two years after we began dating. He asked me to marry him one Christmas morning, then he told me he was a Prince. He'd come to New York to find someone to spend his life with. I had no clue who he was or what his background was. That couldn't happen for him at home. It was all very "Coming to America."

ESSENCE.com: Did you get married in America or in Nigeria?
PRINCESS KEISHA: We were married in New York a month after he proposed. The wedding took place at a private club with just 20 guests. Kunle flew in his pastor from Nigeria. We're still planning our royal ceremony, which will be a week-long affair in Nigeria. I'm excited about it.

ESSENCE.com: What duties do you have a princess?
PRINCESS KEISHA: I don't really have official duties right now since I don't live in Nigeria. My most important assignments are assuring the Omilana name remains in good standing and keeping my husband and son feeling healthy and loved.

Akosua Busia

Akosua Busia is of the Royal Family of Wenchi, Ghana. She's an actress and starred in one of the best films ever, "The Color Purple". Her character was Nettie. "The Color Purple" was Akosua's first acting début, but she went on to star in other films, and also wrote a song with Stevie Wonder. Everyone remembers "Boyz in The Hood", well the Ghanaian actress married (and divorced) the director of the film, acclaimed director John Singleton. - Akosua Busia is the daughter of Kofi Abrefa Busia, the ex-prime minister of the Republic of Ghana, and daughter of a prince of the royal family of Wenchi. Technically she herself is not a "Princess", since the Akans of Ghana trace their ancestry through the female-line. To be a princess therefore, one's Mother should be a royal. When the father is a royal, one is referred to as "Odehyeba" to wit a child of a royal.

King Letsie III of Lesotho

Letsie III (born David Mohato Bereng Seeiso; 17 July 1963) is the reigning king of Lesotho. He succeeded his father, Moshoeshoe II, when the latter was forced into exile in 1990. His father was briefly restored in 1995 but soon died in a car crash in early 1996, and Letsie became king again. As a constitutional monarch, most of King Letsie's duties as monarch of Lesotho are ceremonial.

He was educated in the United Kingdom at Ampleforth College. From there he went on to study at the National University of Lesotho where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Law. He then went on to study at the University of Bristol, the University of Cambridge, and the University of London. He completed his studies in 1989, when he returned to Lesotho.

King Letsie married in 2000 to Karabo Motšoeneng, with whom he has two daughters and one son:

Princess Mary Senate Mohato Seeiso, born 7 October 2001 and

Princess 'M'aSeeiso, born 20 November 2004.

Prince Lerotholi David Mohato Bereng Seeiso, born 18 April 2007
(Photos Below)

Princess Mary Senate Mohato Seeiso and Princess ‘M'aSeeiso of Lesotho (left to right)

Prince Lerotholi David Mohato Bereng Seeiso

Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso

Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso (born June 2, 1976) is the Queen Consort of King Letsie III of Lesotho.

She was born as Anna Karabo Mots'oeneng in Mapoteng in the Berea District the eldest child of Thekiso Mots'oeneng and his wife 'Makarabo. In 1990 Queen 'Masenate enrolled at the Machabeng International College in Maseru and studied there until 1996. In 1997 she attended the National University of Lesotho and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree.

In October 1999, two years into her studies, she became engaged to King Letsie III of Lesotho. They were married on February 18, 2000 in the Lesotho Capital of Maseru. The marriage was the first time in the history of modern Lesotho where a royal had married a commoner.

Queen 'Masenate and King Letsie have three children.

King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, Queen Mother Kemigisa and Princess Komuntale of Toro (Uganda)

A Young King Oyo - 1996

Via The New Vision

KING Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV was born on April 16, 1992 to King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III and Queen Best Kemigisa. Three and half years later in 1995, Oyo ascended to the throne and became the 13th ruler of the 180-year-old Toro kingdom.

He is the youngest ruling monarch worldwide. In the Guinness Book of records, he took the spot of youngest king from Mswati III of Swaziland who was crowned king when he was 18.

At first glance, he looks like any other teenager. He plays video games, reads the Twilight vampire books and plays soccer in his backyard. Yet looks can be deceitful.

People world over know that teenager as King Oyo, the youngest ruling monarch. He is the cultural leader of more than two million people in Toro, one of the four kingdoms in Uganda.

King Oyo has a palace on Harukoto Hill in Fort Portal town. However, because he studies in Kampala, he spends less time here as compared to the palace in Munyonyo, Kampala.

There are two sides to King Oyo’s life. At the Aga Khan International School in Kampala, fellow students do not call him king and he tries to lead a simple life. Schoolmates greet him with hugs and handshakes. “My friends at school don’t care that I am a king. They treat me like any other student,” he says.

But back in Toro, he is the king and is not allowed to smile in public. His subjects prostrate and kiss his feet.

King Oyo ascended to the throne on April 17, 1995 after the death of his father. During his coronation, the toddler sat on a miniature throne and played with toys after a mock battle with a “rebel” prince.

At one point, His Majesty ran from the throne and climbed onto his mother’s lap. He was scared of a lion-skin crown that was too heavy for his little head. “I was scared of the lion and the leopard skin that was placed on my chair and head, I had to run for my safety,” he recalls.

The next day, King Oyo attended a meeting with cabinet members and he had no idea what they were discussing. It took him years to understand what was happening. “I realised when I was about seven years old that I was king and my life was going to be different. I also realised that I would have many responsibilities in future and the people of Toro would look up to me.”

The six-foot-tall king, who sits on a throne draped with leopard skin and wears a blue and gold royal robe, oversees a cabinet that includes a prime minister, board of regents and councillors. The President, Yoweri Museveni, and Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi are among his advisors.

King Oyo oversees efforts to raise money for projects such as health and education. He also implements programmes to boost cultural pride.

“I want to build modern schools and hospitals to improve the service delivery to my people,” he says.

The king has been making decisions with the help of advisers and the queen mother. However, today, as he turns 18, he will become the sole decision-maker. “It’s a huge responsibility, but I have support from my mother, advisers and the cabinet,” he says.

As a king, Oyo’s subjects will give him livestock and spears. He will also continue receiving Government protection, but he is not used to the security detail. “At times, I want to be on my own, but I can’t because the security guys are always around,” he says.

His subjects expect a lot from him. Most people in the kingdom, like most parts of Uganda, live in poverty. The Batooro hope that the young king will transform his people socially and economically.

Credit To: (The New Vision) Article by: HOPE MAFARANGA Published on: Friday, 16th April, 2010

Princess Komuntale of Toro (Sister to King Oyo)

King Lerou Tshekedi Molotlegi

Lerou Tshekedi Molotlegi was never supposed to be king of the Royal Bofakeng nation, a Setswana-speaking community of roughly 300,000 people located in the North West Province of South Africa. There were two brothers that stood ahead of Molotlegi. But when both brothers faced untimely deaths, Molotlegi’s number was called in 2003. The 36th monarch has had some large shoes to fill to make his vision of enhancing the Bofokeng community’s culture and economy a reality. In the 19th century, upon contact with Europeans, a forward-thinking ruler organized the purchase of land to protect it from outside hands. The deeds to the communally held territory survived white rule. When platinum was discovered, the rural outpost was positioned to share in the profits, which has resulted in schools, roads and a stadium that hosted several World Cup games.

Princess Keisha Omilana

A native of Inglewood, Calif., Keisha is an accomplished model having worked with L’Oreal, Maybeline, Revlon and Cover Girl. She is also most recognized for being the first African-American woman to be featured in three consecutive commercials as “The Pantene Girl.” Nigerian prince Kunle Omilana pursued her. She initially turned him down but later accepted his offer. “This is the best decision you have ever made,” he said. It certainly appears that way. Together, they are husband and wife, parents, business partners and owners of Wonderful-TV, a Christian network reaching over 100 million households across Europe. How’s that for happily ever after?

King Mswati III

If mention of an African ruler unsettles something within you, you might be conjuring a character akin to King Mswati III. The King of Swaziland and head of the Swazi Royal Family is considered Africa’s last absolute monarch. He has held the throne for 24 years now, since the age of 18. Mswati’s policies and lavish lifestyle has been known to incite controversy on the home front. He keeps a firm handle on the media, but news gets out about his life of obscene luxury and playboy exploits outside of his 13 wives.

Tsidii Le Loka

Tsidii Le Loka was studying economics and music at the University of Massachusetts when she got a call to come to New York and audition for “The Lion King.” Not only did she get the part of Rafiki, but she went on to receive a Tony nomination for her work. It was a defining moment for a girl who descended from South African royalty and was raised in Lesotho. Today, you can catch her singing at limited engagements around the world, sometimes alongside names such as Yousouu N’Dour, Madonna and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Adewale Ogunleye

Royalty doesn’t always mean rich. Power doesn’t always yield dividends. Thus, even though Adewale Oguleye is of royal Nigerian stock, he didn’t get his first taste of wealth until signing with the Miami Dolphins. Having gone on to play for the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans, he is currently a free agent. As far as we can tell, that goes for his love life too. He’s played prince charming to Sanaa Lathan and Kelis, but as of yet, no bride has emerged to help him carry on the royal line.

Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini

As she completed her studies at Biola University a small Christian school outside of Los Angeles, Sikhanyiso Dlamini said that she wanted to be a minister and a rapper. She’s also expressed a desire to act and model. Whatever she ends up doing, the most salient aspect of her profile will always be that of a princess. Her father is Swazi King Mswati III. Though he rules the country with an iron grip, that hasn’t deterred Dlamini from speaking out against his policies. She called him out when she told the press, “polygamy brings all advantages in a relationship to men, and this to me is unfair and evil.”

King Goodwill Zwelethini

Unlike his neighbor King Mswati III, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu is not about suppressing the press or harassing adversaries. kaBhekuzulu’s title is largely symbolic—he is the reigning king of the Zulu nation under the traditional leadership clause of South Africa’s republican constitution. But, he is still known to abuse his power. The government allots him a multi-million dollar budget for personal upkeep, but spend time perusing local papers and you’ll see that overspending on lavish palaces, vehicles, clothing and vacations taken as a birthright. He has six wives.

Princess Angela of Liechtenstein

Angela Brown probably didn’t believe him when he first said it. In the 1990s, she was living in New York working as a fashion designer. Although once can expect to meet a colorful cast of characters in the city and in Brown’s line of work, a prince still qualifies as a stretch. But there Maximillian of Liechenstein was taking an interest in her. In January 2000, the two married, turning her into one of Europe’s most unlikely princesses.

Prince Alfons Constantin Maria of Liechenstein

Son of Prince Maximillian of Liechenstein & Princess Angela of Liechenstein.

His father is the 2nd son and his uncle has 3 boys so Prince Alfons is 6th in line for the throne.

Born in London on May 18, 2001, Prince Alfons is slated to become a ranking dynast of the Princely House when he turns 18.

Prince Alexandre Eric Stephane Coste

Prince Alexandre with his father, Albert II, Prince Of Monaco

Born in Paris on August 24, 2003, Prince Alexandre is son of Albert ll, Prince of Monaco and Nicole Coste, a native of Togo in West Africa. His paternal grandparents were the late Rainier lll, Prince of Monaco and Princess Grace. (Princess Grace was the famous American actress Grace Kelly.)

Alexandre Eric Stephane’s father Albert II may be the Prince of Monaco, but Alexandre will never be in line for the crown. Neither will he ever bear the family name. That was established by the dynasty soon after his mother, Nicole Coste, a native of Togo in West Africa, broke the news of his existence in a French tabloid. According to Monaco’s constitution, any children born out of wedlock are considered illegitimate. However, Albert II has said that Alexandre and an additional child with another woman would be taken care of financially.

Joy Elias-Rilwan

Joy Elias-Rilwan married Hon. James Edward Lascelles, son of George Henry Hubert Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood and Maria Donata Nanetta Paulina Gustava Erwina Wilhelmine Stein, on January 30, 1999. Joy Elias-Rilwan was a film and TV actress. From January 30, 1999, her married name became Lascelles.

Her husband, The Hon. James Lascelles, is a British musician and the second son of the 7th Earl of Harewood and his first wife, the former Marion Stein (now Mrs. Jeremy Thorpe). His father was a first cousin to Queen Elizabeth II, and he is 50th in line to the British throne.


Countess Mary Von Habsburg of Austria

Countess Mary Von Habsburg of Austria married Ferdinand Leopold Joseph Count von Habsburg of Austria who's family descends from William the Conqueror in Nairobi in 1999. The Countess hails from Sudan and there was apparently a lot of controversy regarding their marriage in royal circles because of the Countess' class and ethnicity. This of course had no effect on the couple who have since had 3 children, all of whom were born in Africa where they currently reside.

The couple have 3 children together: Countess Luisa Aluel (born August 3, 2000), Count László Rum (born May 25,2002) and Countess Gisela Aluk (born October 22, 2004).
All three of the couple's children were birthed in Nairobi.

Princess Elizabeth Bagaaya of Toro

Lawyer, diplomat, politician, and actress are all accomplishments that Princess Elizabeth has under her belt. She was the first female from East Africa to be admitted to the English Bar after studying at Cambridge. She then became Uganda’s first female lawyer as well as serving briefly as the Foreign Minister of Affairs under Idi Amin in 1974.


Sarah Culberson, Princess of the Mende Tribe in Bumpe, Sierra Leone

Sarah Culberson was adopted and living with the only family she ever knew in West Virginia, but upon looking for her birth parents, she discovered that she was indeed a princess and was invited by her father to meet her family in Africa. She founded the Kposowa Foundation to help rebuild the school buildings of Bumpe High School which was destroyed in the country’s civil war.


Princess Esther Kamatari of Burundi

Princess Esther Kamatari, 60 is a writer, model, and exiled Burundian princess.
Esther Kamatari grew up in Burundi as a member of the royal family. Following independence in 1962, the king was overthrown in a military coup d'etat, and the monarchy abolished in 1966.

Kamatari fled the country in 1970 after her father's assassination and settled in Paris, where she became a model.

She is married to a french doctor and they have 2 children together, she has 1 child from a previous relationship.



Sources:

The New Vision

Atlanta Post

Wiki

Essence