ZULU monarch traditional prime minister, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and Indosa Yesizwe are at each other’s throats over the “unfamiliar, unexplained and unexpected rituals” performed at King Misuzulu’s certificate handover on Saturday, 29 October.
After Anglican Church Archbishop, Thabo Makgoba, anointed King Misuzulu with holy oil and put a ring on his finger at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, an organisation of cultural activists called, Indosa Yesizwe, has come out gun blazing.
They are criticising the process that happened, saying it is an attempt at re-colonisation.
Social media was abuzz with people questioning what happened, as they claim that is not part of Zulu culture.
Buthelezi has defended Archbishop Makgoba saying there was nothing wrong that he did. He said if people want someone to blame, they should blame him as he was the one who invited Makgoba.
Rev Professor Musa Xulu said they have noted with much dismay the performance of the Anglican Church, as well as the unexpected rituals that were performed and the singing of the British anthem during the event.
“It’s doubtful, if these rituals belong to the Anglican Church, which is more worrying. The rituals performed by the three Anglican bishops, including Archbishop Makgoba went on unexplained to the public.
“Indosa Yesizwe notes that the ‘calling to the kingship’ oath, which was part of the ritual, is generally known as an oath of Christian pastors who are ‘called’ to be servants of the Lord, and not kings,” he said.
He said Indosa Yesizwe believes that King Misuzulu was born and pre-destined to be the undisputed Zulu king.
“Indosa Yesizwe also notes that social the media is abuzz with speculation about the nature and source of the rituals, the ring and the anointing oil given to our king during the unexplained rituals, resulting in some social media fundis denouncing the Zulu nation as naïve and ignorant.
“The organisation has noted with much regret that when a similar strange set of unexplained rituals were conducted by Theophilus Shepstone and his team, on behalf of Queen Victoria in 1873, the foundation for the destruction of the Zulu kingdom was instantly laid.
“Six years later, (on 4 July 1879) the Zulu kingdom was destroyed by some 20 000 British soldiers.”
Buthelezi came out in defence and said: “As we were installing a Christian king, who worshipped at the Nazareth Baptist Church, I felt it was important to have a Christian element to the ceremony.
“I approached the king and sought his guidance on this and he requested that I appeal to the head of the Anglican Church to perform a religious service.”
Buthelezi said King Misuzulu’s late father, King Zwelithini, was a member of the Anglican Church.
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“At the king’s request, I approached Archbishop Makgoba and he agreed to perform a Christian service before the traditional part of the handover ceremony.
“Makgoba asked for no more than 20 minutes and met with both His Majesty and I beforehand to discuss what would be done. Nothing was imposed upon the king,” he said.
Buthelezi said he wants to emphasise the point because a distressing accusation has been made by the Indosa Yesizwe under the names of Rev Professor Xulu, Dr Makhosi Khoza and Dr Themba Fakazi, claiming that the role played by the Anglican Church in the handing over ceremony amounts to an attempt at “re-colonisation”.
He added that he is devastated by the accusation against the head of his church.
“If there is any blame to be apportioned, that blame should fall squarely on my shoulders. I don’t regret asking the archbishop to perform this service. I believe it was done in a superbly dignified manner.
“The archbishop did what the old prophets did in the times of King David, even using the oil of anointing. This was wholly appropriate for a Christian king.
“I’m perhaps more embarrassed because I have given my support to Indosa Yesizwe since its formation and believe it to be a valuable vehicle through which our nation’s traditions can be preserved,” Buthelezi said.
