The king of South Africa's large Zulu community has challenged a professor and cultural expert to a stick fight, stating he felt insulted, along with the entire Zulu nation.
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini issued the challenge to Prof Musa Xulu in front of thousands at the annual Reed Dance held at his newly built royal palace.
“We are angry and we will do anything to protect and preserve our cultures,” the king declared, as reported on Timeslive.
Prof Xulu responded that he believed the king’s challenge was a joke, though he expressed concern for his safety in the wake of threats from followers of the king.
“I have received threats from hired assassins,” Xulu revealed, adding he had filed a formal police complaint.
While the specifics of what had angered the king were not precisely mentioned, King Misuzulu remarked, “It pains me to see another man telling me how to do my job.”
He further stressed, “If he insults me, he insults the Zulu nation as well.”
In response, Prof Xulu believes his comments on the palace’s recent costly renovations may have sparked the king’s anger, arguing that discussing public finance does not amount to an insult.
Prof Xulu, a 64-year-old academic with doctorates in Zulu music and cultural tourism, stated that while stick fighting is part of Zulu culture, one must be equal in status to fight and sympathized with the king, saying he has not engaged in stick fighting since his teenage years.
After a year-long dispute following the passing of his father and mother, King Misuzulu was crowned in 2022 and has since been recognized by both the royal household and the South African government. The Zulu monarchy, despite having no formal political power, maintains considerable cultural influence over a substantial population in South Africa.
