In a secret rite, as tradition dictates, the new Zulu king will be crowned this Saturday (20) after a long dispute over the succession to the throne of the legendary “people of heaven”, the most powerful in South Africa.
The country’s 11 million Zulus, who make up nearly a fifth of the total population, respond enthusiastically to occasions when their culture is celebrated.
With 11 official languages, South Africa recognizes in its Constitution sovereigns and traditional leaders who, despite having no executive power, exercise deep moral authority and are revered by their people.
In the morning, a colorful crowd of several thousand people gathered to celebrate and honor Misuzulu Zulu, 47, who will henceforth be called Misuzulu kaZwelithini, the surname of her father, who died last year after a 50-year reign.
Troops of “amaButho” warriors—the king’s protectors required to swear loyalty and respect to him during the ceremony—arrived at the palace, forming impressive columns laden with spears and fur-lined shields.
The women wore traditional attire, many with pleated skirts and pearl belts. Others were covered with fabrics emblazoned with the king’s effigy and the inscription “Bayede” (“Hail the King” in the Zulu language).
Several young women danced bare-chested, taking turns in the center of a circle to celebratory chants, lifting their legs high and stamping their feet on the dusty floor.
“Today the king will be recognized by the entire Zulu nation,” his sister Princess Ntandoyesizwe Zulu, 46, told AFP as she left the KwaKhangelamankengane palace in Nongoma, a small town in KwaZulu-Natal province, dressed and a little restless. KZN, southeast).
Secret and death of lion
After midnight, the sovereign entered the “cattle corral”, a kind of temple of the Zulu nation in which a restricted number of men communicate with the ancestors.
It is a secret place, which this Saturday was protected from the eyes of others with a log fence. “It’s a sacred place, we can’t reveal to the world what’s going on there,” said Mumntomuhle Mcambi, 34, one of the “amaButho”.
This week, the king killed a lion at a nearby reserve, the last rite before the coronation, according to tradition. But even that hasn’t calmed the fights that have erupted in the palace in recent months.
Dispute
The late King Goodwill Zwelithini left six wives and at least 28 children. The first wife claims to be the only legitimate one and has gone to court to settle the matter. On Saturday, his clan announced that it had filed an urgent appeal to stop the coronation.
Misuzulu Zulu is the son of his father’s favorite third wife. He himself has two wives and at least four children.
“Those who are Zulus and know the traditions know who the king is,” said Themba Fakazi, adviser to the former ruler and supporter of Misuzulu Zulu.
Other Palace members raised their voices to end a battle that some say made the “people of heaven” a laughing stock.
It’s not just about the fight for the throne, but also for royal fortune.
The Zulu king owns numerous lands managed by a trust of which he is the sole administrator. It’s about 30,000 square kilometers, a size similar to Belgium, and nearly 1,500 properties.
Known for his lavish lifestyle, King Zwelithini was paid about $75,000 a year for his living expenses, in addition to a $4.2 million budget for running the kingdom, according to the official journal.
In the coming months, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will seal the coronation by formally recognizing the new Zulu king, hoping to end rivalries that threaten peace in the kingdom.
The prestige of the Zulu people transcends African borders and is based on the exploits of Chaka, the ruthless warrior and creator of an army that won a bloody battle against the British Empire in the 19th century.
At the time, barefoot warriors, dressed in monkey skin skirts and armbands, defeated a regular army. Imagination did the rest, and historians have nicknamed them “the Spartans of Africa.”
