Thousands show support for new Zulu king
Thousands of people gathered at the Zulu royal palace in South Africa to witness the crowning of a new king.
Misuzulu Zulu ascended to the throne once held by his late father, Goodwill Zwelithini, during traditional ceremonies that were partially overshadowed by a bitter succession dispute.
“Today the Zulu nation starts a new chapter,” the new sovereign told well-wishers speaking from a podium in a large white marquee, wearing a traditional leopard skin and a necklace of predator claws.
“I promise I will work to unite the Zulu nation.”
From early morning, men and women in colourful traditional outfits started to assemble outside the marble palace on the hills of Nongoma — a small town in the southeastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, the Zulu heartland — to honour the new monarch.
“It’s a great day, we are making history,” Bongani Khumalo (80), who is part of the regiments of warriors in charge of protecting the king, told AFP.
In Nongoma, lines of Zulu warriors, known as amaButhos and holding spears and shields of animal skin, marched into the palace grounds.
For hours they enacted war dances under the warm winter sun waiting for the king to appear.
In keeping with tradition, he had killed a lion a few days before the ceremony.
Royal minstrels sang the praises of the new king and told the story of his legendary ancestors.
Suddenly, the king emerged before the crowd wearing a costume of black feathers cinched at the waist by a belt, a spear, and holding a shield.
He joined a line of warriors who swore loyalty to their new leader.
“We have our king!” shouted Sinenhlanhla Msweli, a 29-year-old in attendance.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who in March recognized Misuzulu as the rightful king, is to formally certify the crowning at a ceremony in the coming months.
Source: AFP
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