King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has publicly declared his unwavering love and commitment to Queen Nomzamo Mdolomba KaMyeni, despite facing significant backlash.
The couple officially tied the knot during two extravagant traditional ceremonies over the weekend.
Their wedding festivities commenced with umkhehlo on Friday, November 7, followed by a traditional wedding on Sunday, November 9, as the King observes the Sabbath.
Understanding Umkhehlo
Umkhehlo is a Zulu pre-wedding ceremony for women that occurs after the lobola (bride price) has been paid.
This celebration involves the bride being showered with gifts, symbolising her farewell to her family and marking her transition into married life.
The festivities took place at Jozini Stadium, where the Queen donned an isicholo (traditional headdress), an isidwaba (traditional skirt made from cowhide worn by married women), and a leopard skin bib covering her chest.
She chose yellow for her beading and traditional apron.
During the ceremony, the Queen captivated the audience by singing and dancing for the King, entertaining hundreds of spectators at the stadium.
Following a period of rest (Saturday), the wedding celebrations continued at KwaKhangelamakengane Royal Palace in KwaNongoma.
Political presence and controversy
The traditional wedding ceremony attracted notable politicians, including Julius Malema and Panyaza Lesufi.
At the reception, King Misuzulu reiterated his deep affection for Queen Nomzamo, stating, “If you love a person, you just love them. I’m following my heart.”
This declaration comes after the King faced criticism for marrying Queen Nomzamo, who had children before their relationship.
Initially, the marriage was scheduled for January; however, shortly after the announcement, Queen Ntokozo Mayisela (1st wife) approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court, filing an urgent application to interdict the wedding.
Queen Mayisela argued that the King would be violating the law, as he was married to her under the Civil Marriage Act, which prohibits entering into additional marriages while the first one is still valid.
The court dismissed her application as non-urgent and struck it off the roll, stating there was no evidence that the announced traditional ceremony would constitute a wedding.
Despite the successful completion of the weddings, controversy surrounded the events.
A week before the celebrations, an invitation to the wedding circulated on social media, leading to confusion when reports surfaced claiming the wedding had been cancelled.
When asked whether the wedding would proceed, uMntwana Thulani Zulu responded, “I have no idea.”
King Misuzulu currently has four wives: Ntokozo KaMayisela (1st wife), Nozizwe Mulela (2nd wife), Nomzamo Myeni (3rd wife) and Sihle Mdluli (4th wife).
