Celani Sikhakhane
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini told a crowd of thousands of maidens to stay away from alcohol and focus on their studies at the annual reed dance ceremony in Nongoma on Saturday.
At his first reed dance since his ascension, the king told the crowd at the Enyokeni royal palace that he is saddened to hear that young women have resorted to alcohol.
“It’s shocking that even kids in school drink alcohol.This is not a good direction to take as a nation. We need to focus on education,” he told an elated crowd of maidens, adding that he has been told that young women are drinking more than men.
The reed dance, last held in 2019, is a centuries-old celebration of Zulu culture. For the maidens who attend, it is a rite of passage and a chance to be educated by the wiser older women on the ancient traditions of their nation.
In recent times, the dance has been used as an opportunity to shed light on more contemporary issues – in this case, alcoholism.
But on several occasions the crowd interrupted the king’s speech with ullulations and screams of joy whenever he smiled.
Misuzulu also took a jab at those who were trying to dethrone him.
“I guess there are those who will sleep in hospitals tonight and have doctors put drips on them,” said Misuzulu kaZwelithini, alluding to his brother Prince Simakade’s eviction from the palace at the hands of the police.
Before he spoke, his traditional prime minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi shed tears as he introduced Misuzulu to the stage. Mangosuthu said he could hardly believe that Misuzulu was on the throne after so many had opposed his ascension to the throne.
“Prince Simakade is a demon who tried to illegally occupy the Enyokeni Royal Palace. He must forget because King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is on the throne,” said Buthelezi.
In the early hours of Friday morning, police raided the palace, forcefully removing the backers of the royal rebel Simakade from the premises.
Buthelezi also announced that on 29 October president Cyril Ramaphosa will hand over a certificate to the king to officially recognise him as the King of the Zulu Nation during a ceremony at Moses Mabhida stadium.
Royal spokesperson Prince Thulani Zulu told Scrolla.Africa that 50,000 maidens were in attendance at Saturday’s ceremony.
Image source: @Undlunkulu_Xoli
