Ihlambo ceremony for the late king this weekend
The Ihlambo ceremony is part of Zulu tradition and is performed after the passing of a king.
The Traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu monarch and nation, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi announced that the Inhlambo ceremony will take place this weekend (25 and 26 June).
‘These dates coincide with the ritual hunt by which the late king’s spear and other weapons are cleansed,’ said Buthelezi.
The Ihlambo ceremony is part of Zulu tradition and is performed after the passing of a king.
‘In my lifetime, the Zulu nation has lost three kings. I recall that after the passing of my uncle, King Solomon ka Dinuzulu, this ceremony was performed. Again, when my first cousin, King Cyprian Bhekuzulu ka Solomon, passed away, the Ihlambo ceremony was performed.
‘Now, with the loss of King Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu, the Ihlambo ceremony must again be performed. The ceremony is performed even after the passing of Amakhosi.
‘It is the king’s prerogative to choose the dates for this ceremony, and he has done so, with the ready endorsement of the senior members of the Zulu royal family, including the matriarch and Prince Philemon of Fihlinqindi.
‘As King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini is on the throne and his status as king of the Zulu nation has been recognised by President Cyril Ramaphosa and gazetted, it is inappropriate for anyone else to announce ceremonies of the king other than the king himself,’ Buthelezi said.
‘Buthelezi further explained that the king instructed him, as the traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu monarch and nation, to make his announcement.
‘I emphasise the point above because announcements have unfortunately been made by those who have no authority to make them, related to ceremonies which they claim need to be performed.
‘It is thus necessary to clarify that there is no such ceremony in Zulu culture as the ritual cleansing of the late king’s palaces, as has been claimed by Prince Mbonisi Zulu and Prince Mxolisi Zulu. This does not need to be done, as such a ceremony does not exist.
‘It has never happened in my experience of three kings.
‘It is noted that these princes undertook a ritual hunt several months ago, but this was not an official cleansing ceremony.
‘The king alone carries the authority to announce rituals and ceremonies to be performed. We request that anyone unfamiliar with Zulu custom take note of this statement so that erroneous reports may be avoided in the media, to the confusion of the Zulu nation,’ Inkosi Buthelezi said.
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