By Celani Sikhakhane
- King Misuzulu kaZwelithini prayed during the First Fruits ritual to preserve the Zulu monarchy, urging regiments to stay strong and united.
- The ritual, attended by Zulu male regiments, was held at Mashobeni Palace, marking its return after a break during King Goodwill Zwelithini’s reign.
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has used the sacred ritual ceremony to pray for the Zulu Monarch not to disappear with his generations of the Zulu nation.
He was speaking on Thursday afternoon on the last day of the First Fruits sacred ritual known as UMkhosi woSelwa that was held at Mashobeni Royal Palace in Nongoma.
He said it would be an embarrassment if the Zulu Nation and himself allowed the monarchy to perish.
One prominent feature of this ritual, which celebrates the first harvest of food, is the killing of a strong bull by regimental warriors using their bare hands to strangle the beast.
“Today is not the moment of speeches but it is worth noting that this is the very first time we are performing this ritual after it took a break during the reign of my father, the late Mdlokombane.
“I call on you, Zulu regiments, to be stronger to keep this monarchy alive. I pray for all of you to get more strength as we prepare preparing the commemoration of the battle of Isandlwana in Nquthu next week.
“I am praying for you to come out of this ritual as a strong force of this monarchy,” said King Misuzulu.
Disgraced and expelled former Traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu monarch and nation Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi was conspicuous by his absence.
This was in sharp contrast to previous traditional Zulu ceremonies as Buthelezi used to support King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s ceremonies through his Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
When Scrolla.Africa approached him for comments via WhatsApp, but he only read the text and never responded.
Buthelezi was fired by King Misuzulu kaZwelithini via WhatsApp on Christmas Eve.
The sacred ritual of the First Fruit is only attended by males of Zulu regiments – the young and old, with traditional leaders of different clans.
In 2009 the Animal Rights Africa Trust took King Goodwill Zwelithini to court over a bull-killing ceremony.
The organisation was opposed to the king killing a bull with his bare hands. The court ruled in favour of the king.
The Trust filed a motion in December 2009 to prevent the king from slaughtering a bull.
The king was in court as a representative of the Zulu nation.
During that year Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini lambasted people who criticised other people’s cultures and called for the revival of circumcision during his address at the ceremony, which was known at that time as Umkhosi wokweshwama and held at the Nyokeni royal palace in Nongoma.
This time it was held at the new Mashobeni palace, built for King Shaka kaSenzangakhona.
Pictured above: King Misuzulu kaZwelithini prays for a stronger Zulu monarchy that won’t perish during his reign.
Source: Zulu Royal Kingdom
