South Africa(Washington Insider Magazine)-South Africa has recently crowned a new Zulu King, Misuzulu ka Zwelithini. The coronation came after a recent family feud.
The feud was caused by royals who believed that Zwelithini was not the rightful heir after evidence emerged that his predecessor, who has now passed, was fraudulent.
The coronation, which was held at KwaKhangelamankengane Palace, was attended by thousands of locals. During the coronation, the king entered the cattle kraal, a sacred prayer room, where he declared himself the new Zulu king to his ancestors.
Reports suggest that more than 10 cows were slaughtered before the event to prepare for the king’s traditional dress, the hide of the lion, which he was expected to wear during the ceremony.
Though the coronation generated much interest and political intrigue within the dynasty, the Zulu King has no political power in South Africa. That said, Zulu and its monarchy still hold a lot of influence over a fifth of the country’s population and have a whopping budget of $4.9m, which taxpayers fund.
The Zulu Kingdom has a rich history, and the monarch is famed for defeating the British troops in the battle of Isandlwana, the first Anglo-Zulu war, which took place in January 1879.
Since then, the monarch has had many famous bloody battles and interpersonal conflicts, such as when Senzangakhona killed his brother to take the throne. His nephew then assassinated Senzangakhona to do the same.
The most recent conflict comes after King Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu, who died more than a year ago.
It is now public knowledge that the king had forged his will, which has caused debates on who the rightful heir to the throne is.
The primary reason for discrepancies can be linked back to the king’s third wife, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, who in the will was named as a regent (a caretaker role for the successor).
Prior to the king’s death, Mantfombi had the highest status of the king’s wives (he had six), and the marriage came with the condition that her son would be first in line for the throne. Zwelithini was also named as successor in the will.
Prince Misulu was also the only person to inherit his grandfather’s, King Cyprian Bhekuzulu ka Solomon, weapons, an endorsement from the king that he would be his father’s successor.