The AmaHlubi tribe is fuming over King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s push to drop the name Natal from KwaZulu-Natal, writes Celani Sikhakhane in Royals Mzansi.
The AmaHlubi believe the name Natal symbolises their relationship with the Portuguese and their own independence from the land of the Zulus. The AmaHlubi, an ancient Embo people, are believed to have had contact with Portuguese traders along the coast and in the near interior before other nations in the region.
The name Natal originated when Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama named the coast Terra Natal in 1497 after passing it on Christmas Day. It developed from a British trading post at Port Natal in 1824 into a Boer republic, which the British annexed in 1843. It became a British colony and later joined the Union of South Africa in 1910.
When political parties held negotiations during Codesa ahead of the 1994 first democratic elections, a consensus was reached to name the province KwaZulu-Natal.
King Misuzulu wants the name Natal dropped. He claims it is a colonial name that has nothing to do with the history of the Zulu Kingdom.
This week, ANC KZN coordinator Mike Mabuyakhulu rejected the proposal. He said not just anybody could propose renaming the province to drop Natal.
Mabuyakhulu said the name means Christmas and came about as part of a consensus reached during negotiations.
The ANC’s stance has caused backlash. Critics have accused the party of being hypocritical because it has renamed many towns and historical places across the country.
At one point the ANC proposed renaming North West province after communist stalwart JB Marks. There was also a proposal to combine the Western Cape and Eastern Cape and name them after the late struggle hero Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Pictured above: AmaHlubi King Langalibalele II, who has been on the throne since 1974.
Image source: Amahlubi Kingdom
