Sunday | August 21, 2022
South Africa – AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini was crowned the King of the AmaZulu nation at Nongoma in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) on Saturday Aug. 20.
It does not happen often to witness the inauguration of a King in a generation in South Africa. The flamboyant event of Aug. 21, 2022 will be one of the historic moments, not only for the Zulu tribe note South African, but for the whole world. Here is a 48-year-old whose ascent to the throne survived court challenge after the other.
The dust settled at SA’s high Court and the unbridled cultural jubilations punctuated the sunny sky above the KwaKhangelamankengane royal Palace in KZN) throughout the day until dusk.
He ascended the throne after his predecessor, Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu, passed away a year ago due to Covid-19 related complications.
As true to traditional practices of the Zulu Kingdom, Misuzulu succeeded his father as the heir to the kingship.
Some members of the royal family challenged his credentials as crystallized by the will left by Goodwill Zwelithini. They contended that the will was tampered with and could not be relied on.
The allegation was overruled by a court, opening Misuzulu’s path to the crown.
Saturday Aug. 20 was the day of the actual celebration of initiating him to his ancestral lineage to Prince Philemon Zulu said it is the dawn of a new era.
The attempt to interdict the coronation by some of his family members of the Zwelithini yesterday, the day of jovial AmaZulu cultural festivities, was dismissed by the court.
The challengers’, among which were Zwelithini’s brothers, was that Misuzulu was not the first born among the late King’s children. Therefore, he could not ascend to the crown.
Even so, experts have proffered that a heir is born from the King’s wife whom the Zulu nation would have paid “lobola” for. In this case, Mantfombi Dlamini, Misuzulu’s (now late) mother falls in this category.
Additionally, Dlamini is of royalty, which is another jewel on the crown. She is the sister of the current Eswatini King Mswati III. Mantfombi got married to Zwelithini in 1973 and thus, she would give birth to the successor to the king.
In the run up to Saturday’s coronation of Misuzulu, his brother, Prince Simakade Zulu installed himself as the AmaZulu King.
Cultural historians commented that the AmaZulu throne has always been a heritage jewel of contention. Therefore, a slew of court battles are nothing new.
On his side, Misuzulu is under the arm of a AmaZulu culture paragon Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the founder of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
Misuzulu’s grandfather Cyprian Bhekezulu appointed Prince Buthelezi as the Prime Minister of the Zulu nation. Since then, Buthelezi has presided over countless AmaZulu traditional ceremonies.
His long tenure as the Prime Minister saw him oversee the coronation of Misuzulu’s father Goodwill Zwelithini in 1971. And 51 years later, he presided over another son of the kingdom clan.
According to Al Jazeera correspondent Famila Mila, “AmaZulu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa”. The Zulu kingdom has a proud history.
King Misizulu was taken to the sacred kraal where he was formally presented to the departed Kings of the AmaZulu nation to the ululations, the click of sticks and giddy dances of the people of KZN.
This is part of their rich heritage that Nomsa Maseko writing for BBC said: “is world-famous for defeating British troops during the 1879 battle of Isandlwana”.
The mega vintage event was graced by Chiefs from Zambia, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Eswatini dignitaries among interalia.
Politically, the sitting SA President Cyril Ramaphosa has already recognized Misuzulu kaZwelithini as the King of the AmaZulu ethinic caste.
The government ceremony will be held at the magnificent Moses Mabhida Stadium to confir a certificate to Misuzulu.