Majestic Scenes at Zulu Nation’s 200 Year Anniversary Celebrations
While South Africans around the country (and the world) celebrated Heritage Day – which was previously known as King Shaka Day – it was an extremely special occasion for the Zulu nation… their 200 year anniversary! Celebrations began with a parade in the city centre which led to Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, himself […]
While South Africans around the country (and the world) celebrated Heritage Day – which was previously known as King Shaka Day – it was an extremely special occasion for the Zulu nation… their 200 year anniversary!
Celebrations began with a parade in the city centre which led to Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, himself a Zulu; Inkatha Freedom Party leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi; and King Goodwill Zwelithini were in attendance at the packed stadium.
Celebrations were also for the king who will have reigned for 45 years on 3 December 2016, making him the longest serving king of the Zulus.
The Zulu nation was founded at the start of the 17th century by an ancestor called Zulu (which means ‘sky’ or ‘heaven’) and was relatively small. Today approximately 11 million Zulus live in South Africa and the Zulu language is the mother tongue for the largest percentage of people in SA (over 22%).
The King called on the parents to take part in the debate on university fees, saying it wasn’t right for them to not be participating “when your children are at odds with government” and that it didn’t matter whether they were educated or not.
“You’ve been silent for too long,” he said.
President Zuma also urged the Zulu nation to return to its roots of respecting women and children.
In a move welcomed by conservationists, King Goodwill Zwelithini called on his people to defend KwaZulu-Natal’s resources… particularly the rhino (of which at least 117 have been brutally poached already this year). He asked the Zulus to be the “police” and “be the last line of defence against this scourge of rhino killing. I urge you.”
2016 #KingShakaDay #ZULU200 #Zulunation #HeritageDay @ Moses Mabhida Stadium #mmstadium MAJESTIC #proudlykzn #africa #world #culture #Durban pic.twitter.com/wCWmOb3GRt
— 🇿🇦 #KZNSportsArts&Culture (@SportArtsKZN) September 24, 2016
#Zulunation #ZULU200 @ Moses Mabhida Stadium today, Shembe Church celebrating 200 years with King Goodwill Zwelithini #HeritageDay #KZN pic.twitter.com/cdugPeq1zq
— 🇿🇦 #KZNSportsArts&Culture (@SportArtsKZN) September 24, 2016