A succession battle has dimmed the glare of the Zulu monarch’s forthcoming coronation ceremony in South Africa.
South Africa’s ethnic Zulu nation is preparing to host a coronation event for their new traditional king amid internal divisions that threaten to tear the royal family apart.
On Saturday, King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini, a son of King Goodwill Zwelithini, who died last March, will undergo the traditional ritual known as ukungena esibayeni (entering the royal village) to mark his appointment as the new leader of the Zulu nation .
The Zulus are South Africa’s largest ethnic group with more than 12 million people living mainly in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal.
It is historically recognized that the Zulu nation, under King Shaka Zulu, put up fierce resistance to British colonialism from 1816 to 1828.
The ceremony is expected to be attended by thousands of Zulu people, including members of the royal family, traditional leaders from other ethnic groups and members of the Zulu nation.
It continues despite challenges from some members of the royal family, who insist that Misuzulu is not the rightful heir to the throne.
Misuzulu is the eldest son of Zwelithini with his third wife Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu who is said to enjoy elevated status among his six wives as she was born of the royal house of Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), the last remaining Absolute monarchy in Africa.
Queen Dlamini-Zulu held the title of regent of the Zulu nation after the death of her husband, but died about a month later and named her eldest son Misuzulu as successor in her will.
However, some members of the royal family are opposed to Misuzulu as successor, instead acknowledging his eldest brother, Simagade Zulu ka Zwelithini, as the rightful heir.
Last weekend, the rival family faction held the Ukungena Esibayeni ceremony for Simagade, although it was not recognized by the rest of the royal family elders who support Misuzulu as the rightful king.
To further confuse the situation, Zwelithini’s three brothers held a press conference in Johannesburg on Thursday, announcing another of their brothers, Buzabazi kaZwelithini, as their preferred heir to the throne.
The late king reportedly fathered 28 children with his six wives.
The South African government recognizes Misuzulu as the legal heir to the throne and will issue him a certificate of recognition at a date to be determined.
The position of King of the Zulu nation is an influential one in the province of KwaZulu-Natal as the custodian of the ethnic group’s traditional customs.
The king also exercises control of vast tracts of land estimated at about one-third of KwaZulu-Natal, or 28,000 square kilometers (10,810 sq mi), through the Ingonyama Trust, of which he is sole trustee.