Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has visited the museum of the historic Battle of Isandlwana in London.

The king, with his entourage, is still in England after being conferred with two honours, the African Impact and the Humanitarian Impact awards, over the weekend.

The African Impact Award recognises outstanding leadership in promoting cultural identity, national unity, and regional development.

The Humanitarian Impact Award honours dedication to uplifting communities, protecting indigenous knowledge systems, and advancing human dignity.

The Zulu royal spokesperson, who accompanied the king, stated that while still in the country, the king took an opportunity to visit the museum, which keeps important historical information about the Battle of Isandlwana, where Zulus defeated the heavily armed British army at the foot of the hill in Nquthu, north of KwaZulu-Natal.

Reacting to the awards conferred to the king, Prince Thulani said King Misuzulu’s dual recognition marks the first time a sitting Zulu monarch has been internationally honoured in this manner on foreign soil.

“In a historic ceremony that merged tradition with diplomacy, His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini of the Zulu Kingdom was conferred with two of Africa’s most prestigious honours — the African Impact Award and the Humanitarian Impact Award — at the 15th African Achievers Awards, hosted at the Palace of Westminster in London, United Kingdom,” said Zulu.

The awards, celebrated over two days in the British Parliament’s most iconic chambers — the House of Commons and the House of Lords — were hosted respectively by The Honourable Diane Abbott MP, Mother of the House, and Baroness Sandip Verma, member of the House of Lords and chancellor of Roehampton University.

The prince said the event drew statesmen, royals, diplomats, international media, and civil society leaders from across the globe; however, the evening’s highest honour and greatest resonance belonged to King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, whose presence marked not just a ceremonial engagement, but a symbolic return of the Zulu crown to the very empire that once exiled his forefathers.

His Majesty was accompanied by a 12-member official royal delegation, reflecting the full authority and breadth of the Zulu Kingdom’s leadership.

Included in this high-level entourage were:

• Her Royal Highness Queen LaMdhluli, consort to the King.
• Nkosi Chiliza, deputy traditional prime minister of the Zulu Kingdom.
• Nkosi Prince Zuzifa Buthelezi, chairperson of the King’s Council.
• Prince Thulani Zulu, official spokesperson of the Zulu Royal House.
• Prince Nathi Zulu, representative of the Zulu Monarchy in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial House of Traditional Leaders.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

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