Thousands celebrate South Africa’s new Zulu king

Thousands of people gathered at the Zulu Royal Palace in South Africa on Saturday to witness the coronation of a new king in the country’s richest and most influential traditional monarchy.

Misuzulu Zulu, 47, ascended the throne once held by his late father, Goodwill Zwelithini, during traditional ceremonies partly marred by a bitter succession dispute.

“Today a new chapter begins for the Zulu nation. I promise I will work to unite the Zulu nation,” the new sovereign told the well-wisher, who wore a traditional leopard skin and a necklace of predatory claws.

Although the title of king confers no executive powers, the monarchs exercise great moral influence over more than 11 million Zulus, who make up almost a fifth of South Africa’s population.

From early morning, men and women dressed in colorful traditional outfits gathered in front of the Marble Palace on the hills of Nongoma, a small town in the south-eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, the heartland of the Zulu people, to honor the new monarch.

“It’s a great day, we’re making history,” Bongani Khumalo, 80, who is among the warrior regiments in charge of protecting the king, told AFP.

However, amid the celebrations, a bitter family feud raged over the throne.

As the celebrations began, an eleventh-hour appeal by a branch of the royal family to block all ceremonies was struck down by a court, local media reported.

At Nongoma, ranks of Zulu warriors known as amaButhos, armed with spears and shields made of animal skins, marched onto the palace grounds.

For hours they performed war dances under the warm winter sun and waited for the king to appear.

Women—some shirtless, others in pleated skirts and beaded belts or draped in fabrics bearing the effigy of the ruler—sang and danced.

Royal minstrels sang hymns to the new king and told the tale of his legendary ancestors.

Suddenly the king appeared before the crowd, wearing a costume of black feathers, held at the waist by a belt, a spear and a shield.

He joined a line of warriors who swore allegiance to their new leader.

“We have our king!” exclaimed Sinenhlanhla Msweli, a 29-year-old attendee.

Misuzulus’ path to the crown was not smooth.

King Zwelithini, who died in March last year after 50 years in office, left behind six wives and at least 28 children.

Misuzulu is the first son of Zwelithini’s third wife, whom he named regent in his will.

But the queen died suddenly a month later, leaving a will naming Misuzulu as the next king — a development that didn’t sit well with other branches of the family.

Queen Sibongile Dlamini, the late King’s first wife, has supported her son Prince Simakade Zulu as the legal heir.

Some of the late king’s brothers have suggested a third prince as their candidate for the throne.

Queen Sibongile’s legal bid to challenge the succession was revived on Friday as she was given the right to appeal a previous unfavorable decision.

But on Saturday a court in Pietermaritzburg rejected an urgent request by two of their daughters to end all rituals.

“Those who are Zulu and know the traditions know who the king is,” said Themba Fakazi, an adviser to the former ruler who supports Misuzulu.

The next Zulu monarch will inherit a fortune and open up a plentiful income.

Zwelithini received around 71 million rand (US$4.2 million) annually from the government and owned several palaces and other properties.

A royal trust manages almost three million hectares of land – an area about the size of Belgium.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, who recognized Misuzulu as the rightful king in March, is expected to formally seal the coronation at a ceremony in the coming months.