Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has used the Reed Dance, held for the first time at his new Emashobeni Palace, to lash out at Professor Musa Xulu, whom he accused of not only insulting him but the whole Zulu nation, which he said is now angry at his behaviour. 

Addressing thousands of Zulu maidens who attended the 40-year-old event held at the palace located in Ophongolo, northern KwaZulu-Natal, the king said the media had ignored his repeated instruction not to use Xulu in analysing the affairs of the royal family. 

In response, Xulu said the king was setting the members of the Zulu nation against him.

The event was attended by former president Jacob Zuma, Premier Thami Ntuli, and KZN Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders Inkosi Sifiso Shinga.

Also present were the Rain Queen Modjadji of the Balobedu tribe in Limpopo Province and representatives from the Eswatini Kingdom.

The king addressed the less than 20-minute speech in which he pledged to protect the virginity testing culture. 

He said he preferred Professor Jabulani Maphalala, who knew the royal family, and he was his advisor.

He challenged the media, asking why they didn’t consult Maphalala, Professor Otty Nxumalo, or Professor Sihawukele Ngubane from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) for analysis of his affairs.

“Those are the people who know about the Zulu kingdom and cultures. 

“They are well educated in top universities,” he said. 

He said instead the media would approach “useless” Xulu to talk about him. 

“I am warning you (the media) that since I took over the throne, Musa Xulu is against me,” the king said.

The king did not explain what exactly Xulu said to him and the royal family that he interpreted as an insult. 

“It is okay if he is against me, but Zulu nation, if a person insults me, he is insulting you as well. 

“What kind of a professor who goes around insulting people?” said the king.

He said the nation was angry, and “they will do anything to protect me and preserve our culture. Do you understand?”

“In my heart, Musa Xulu is not good. If his friends are here, go and tell him that there is a fighting ring if he wants a stick fight because I can take him up,” said the king.

He said that as a Zulu person, he knows that a stick is used to discipline an ill-disciplined person.

When contacted for a response to the king’s utterances, Xulu said the media uses him for comments because it wants well-thought-out, independent analyses.

“He always wants a war with me. I am an independent analyst with a PHD in cultural studies. 

“Does he want me to be his praise singer?” said Xulu.

Although the king said he did not want the members of the Zulu nation to attack anyone, Xulu believed that the king wanted him attacked.

“He has said it,” said Xulu. 

Xulu said he had three PhDs, with the first one obtained from UKZN, the second one from the University of Zululand, and the third one from Christian Leadership University in the United States of America.

“Right now, I am pursuing the fourth one at the University of Zululand, which is the sociology of traditional leadership. 

“He is being careless when he talks about me like this in public because in 2023, he told a television station that he did not know me,” said Xulu. 

He said he is currently inundated by local and international media looking for views about anything cultural and traditional. 

“Because what I analyse is very academic and makes a lot of sense,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Ntuli pledged to develop infrastructure at Emashobeni Palace so that it would be suitable to host the Reed Dance. 

He also called for the local community to appreciate the event, which he said would make their rural area a tourist destination.

bongani.hans@inl.co.za

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