Cultural expert Professor Sihawu Ngubane and the Zulu royal family have moved to defuse the confusion surrounding the status of King Misuzulu’s new wife, Queen Sihle Mdluli, regarding her acquisition of “mother of the nation” status.
The confusion arose from the 70 cattle the King gave to the Mdluli family as part of lobola last week. The cattle were donated by several amakhosi (traditional leaders), and people confused the donation with the cultural policy where each Inkosi provides a cow for the King to take a “mother of the nation” who will bear the heir.
Weighing in on the confusion on Thursday, Ngubane cautioned people to distinguish between the donation (isipheko) and the contribution to lobola for a King’s wife who will bear the heir. He said when the King decides that he needs a wife to bear the heir, he directs his Traditional Prime Minister to make an announcement to the nation. Each Inkosi and his tribe will then provide a cow as a lobola contribution. However, in the case of Queen Mdluli, Ngubane said amakhosi willingly gave these cattle as a donation, not as a lobola contribution as defined by the cultural practice.
“The suggestion that Queen Sihle Mdluli is the new Zulu nation’s mother is wrong. It is important that this is clarified because it has the potential to cause serious problems for the succession process in the royal family,” said Ngubane.
In terms of this culture, Ngubane explained that the King plays no role, as the amakhosi take over from the outset and send their own delegation to the bride’s family, preparing everything until the wedding day.
The King’s private secretary, Arnold Ndamase, clarified on Wednesday that the amakhosi’s donation of cattle did not constitute a lobola contribution by the nation, which is a cultural requirement for a King’s wife to acquire “mother of the nation” status.
Accompanied by senior officials, including traditional Prime Minister Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza, spokesperson Mpikayise Buthelezi, private secretary Arnold Ndamase, and regiments, the King travelled to Hlanzeni village in Mpumalanga last week. There, he showered the Mdluli family with gifts (umembeso) and completed the process with 70 cattle for the bride.
This cultural practice was central to King Misuzulu’s ascension to the throne. Although his late mother, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini, was the third wife of his father, the late King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, she became the Zulu nation’s mother by virtue of being royal and because her lobola was paid by the Zulu nation. In terms of culture, the lobola for the wife who will bear the heir must be paid by the nation, even if she is already royal. Her royalty is considered an added advantage.
Mdluli, who is referred to as Queen Mawewe in the royal family, comes from the Mawewe Traditional Council, where her mother, Khulile Mkhwatshwa, is Inkosi. She became Inkosi in 2014 when her father died without a male child. Mdluli already occupies the Mashobeni Royal Palace in Pongolo in northern KwaZulu-Natal. She would be the fourth wife and joins Queen Ntokozo Mayisela, Queen Nozizwe Mulela, and Queen Nomzamo Myeni in the royal family.
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