South Africa’s Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has publicly challenged a cultural professor to a stick fight after criticism of his newly built royal palace.
The 50-year-old monarch issued the challenge to Prof Musa Xulu during the annual Reed Dance festival, attended by thousands at the eMashobeni palace. King Misuzulu said he had been insulted personally and as a representative of the Zulu nation, remarking: “If his friends are here, go and tell him that there is a fighting ring, if he wants a stick fight because I can take him up.”
Prof Xulu, 64, is a cultural expert with doctorates in Zulu music and cultural tourism. He told the BBC he believes the king was angered by an interview he gave about the new eMashobeni palace, questioning the decision to spend 152 million rand, or $9m, on renovations when the long-standing Enyokeni palace had recently been upgraded.
eMashobeni palace where King Misuzulu extended a stick fight challenge to Professor XuluProfessor Xulu vs Zulu King
King Misuzulu, crowned in 2022 following a succession dispute after his father’s death, said he viewed Xulu’s remarks as disrespectful. “It is okay if he is against me, but when he insults me, he insults the Zulu nation as well,” he said, according to South African outlet IOL.
Prof Xulu has described the king’s remarks as a joke but said he fears for his safety after receiving threats. He has filed a police complaint, citing messages from “hired assassins” in the days after the speech.
Although the Zulu throne has no formal political authority, it remains highly influential among the nearly 12 million Zulus in South Africa and receives more than $4.9m in taxpayer funding each year.