Thousands Witness Crowning of New Zulu King in South Africa

Thousands of people gathered at the Zulu royal palace in South Africa to witness the crowning Misuzulu Zulu as a new Zulu king. King Misuzulu, who ascended to the throne, will wield great symbolic power for over 11 million Zulus. They make up nearly a fifth of South Africa's population, writes Darko Janjevic for Deutsche Welle.

A bitter family feud over the throne overshadowed the ceremony. Misuzulu's father, King Goodwill Zwelithini, died in March 2021 after a 50-year reign, leaving six wives and at least 28 children. A dispute of over succession of the throne in 2021 saw several members of the Zulu royal family vie for leadership.

Sibongile Winifred Zulu, first wife of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, claimed she was entitled to 50% of the late monarch's estate. Meanwhile, Queen Sibongile Winifred's two daughters, Princesses Ntandoyenkosi Zulu and Ntombizosuthu Zulu-Duma, wanted the court to declare King Zwelithini's will a forged document.

In the will, the late king nominated his third wife, Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu as the regent. Queen Dlamini Zulu - who died on April 29, 2021 - in turn, wrote her own will in which she nominated her own son, Misuzulu Sinqobile kaZwelithini, as the successor to the late Zulu king. Prince Misuzulu's claim to the throne in May 2021 was strongly contested at the time.