South Africa's First New Zulu King Crowned In Durban In 51 Years

Tens of thousands of people gathered at a football stadium in Durban on Saturday to celebrate the coronation of South Africa’s Zulu king.

President Cyril Ramaphosa was due to present the certificate formally recognizing the 48-year-old new ruler of the country’s richest and most influential traditional monarchy.

Misuzulu Zulu ascended the throne once held by his father, Goodwill Zwelithini, who died in March 2021 following a diabetes-related illness.

The coronation – the first South Africa has seen in more than 50 years – comes after a year of bitter royal succession feuding that has spilled over into the courts.

King Misuzulu Zulu is one of at least 28 children of former monarch Goodwill Zwelithini. Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images

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.

Amabutho, royal regiments, dressed in traditional skirts, sang songs of praise to their king.

Women wore brightly brimmed Zulu hats and traditional cloaks, while young girls in pleated skirts and beads danced on the terraces of the 85,000-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Zulu women at the coronation ceremony. Photo: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

Among the delegates was King Mswati III of Africa’s last absolute monarchy, Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, who is also the uncle of the new Zulu king.

Zulu kings are descendants of Shaka, the 19th-century leader who was still revered for having united much of the country as a Zulu nation that fought bloody battles against British colonists.

Zwelithini, who died after more than 50 years at the helm, 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 after Zwelithini, leaving a will naming Misuzulu as the next king – a development not well received by other family members.

The new monarch’s first name means ‘strengthening of the Zulus’, but his path to the crown was not smooth.