A KING IS BORN
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE THRONE

As the political terrain in South Africa was to be irrevocably transformed following the National Party’s electoral victory in 1948, a true child of Africa was welcomed into the Zulu royal family by a proud King Cyprian and Quieten Jezangani.

Born on 27 July 1948, His Majesty spent much of his early years at his grandfather’s royal residence at Kwa Dlamahlahla.  King Zwelithini takes pride in the fact that he was raised without any special treatment or attention being lavished upon him.

“I passed through all the normal stages of boyhood.  I was not treated as someone who would one day be the figurehead of the Zulu nation,” says the king.

Following his schooling, the young prince’s tertiary education focussed on Law and Administration.  The death of his father in September 1968 was followed by the turbulence that has, historically, accompanied a vacant throne.

“The position of kingship always creates problems,” says King Zwelithini..  For a while, security concerns forced His Majesty to seek safety in Eastern Transvaal.

Prince Mcwayizeni, an uncle of the king, served as the King Regent until the leadership vacuum in the Zulu nation was filled.

Having successfully negotiated the volatility of the period- as well as his claim to the Zulu monarchy – the new king – King Zwelithini – finally assumed the throne on 03/12/1971.

Against a difficult backdrop of draconian subjugation, the king has remained a beacon of hope to his people.  As the country emerged from its dark apartheid past to its present era of democracy, and as the old millennium gave way to the new, the astute leadership offered by King Zwelithini has ensured that a potentially difficult tenure has become a golden age as fresh challenges and new vistas are embraced.

THE ONLY SURVIVING WIFE OF KING CYPRIAN
REMINISCES ABOUT HIS MAJESTY’S EARLY LIFE
by Queen Mother Mavis Zulu

“Born nearly 54 years ago, His Majesty’s mother was Jenzangani of the Ndwandwe clan.  He grew up at kwaDlamahlahla Palace.  Even before he was born, a woman of God had correctly prophesised that he would be looked after by Ndlunkulu Hlabangane, ons King Solomon’s wives.  (King Solomon was His Majesty’s grandfather and had 40 wives).

His Majesty grew up like all the other boys.  He tended the cattle chopped wood that was needed for the stove, did gardening, fetched vegetables from the fields and was dispatched on errands by the elders.  In church he served the priest of the Anglican Church.

His primary education was completed at the Mpumulanga and Nhlophenkulu Primary Scchools.  His high schooling was completed at a school that was strictly for the children of the king and chiefs, the Bhekuzulu College, named after his father, King Bhekuzulu.

He liked sport, especially soccer, boxing and stick-fighting and was a good football player.  His Majesty also enjoyed singing in the family choir together with his four sisters – at that time he was the only male in the family.

After the death of his father, King Bhekuzulu, the family gathered together and appointed His Majesty as the successor.  He had already married Queen Sibongile before being crowned as king.  His Majesty was inaugurated as the king at the kwa Khethomthandayo arena which was specially prepared for the coronation ceremony.  The king ascended the throne at the age of 23.

This was a very significant and an auspicious occasion.  In spite of the torrential rain, thousands of people, including dignitaries, government officials and representatives of other states such as Swaziland were in attendance. 

The new king’s cool, calm and collected demeanour inspired confidence.  That day, the Zulu nation paid tribute to him and saluted him as the king for the first time with cries of:  WENA WENDLOVU!  WENA WENDLOVU!  BAYEDE!!!

They have been doing so for the past 30 years.”