A tale of two monarchs

25 Sep, 2022 - 00:09 0 Views
A tale of two monarchs Traditional dance groups entertain people during the King Mzilikazi day commemorations held at Mhlahlandlela in Matobo District recently. (Picture by Nkosizile Ndlovu)

The Sunday News

Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday Life Reporter
ON the evening of 9 September, there was a rare sight at a local pub.

Usually, a day before the giants in the English Premier League clash, local pubs tune their screens to the sports channels, for highlights of the bruising battles from the previous weekend.

However, on that Friday, as the neon pub lights cast a blue haze on patrons patiently sipping their first pints of what for some would be a long and thirsty weekend, a strange thing happened.

Without warning, the channels on all screens were changed, with the bar tender, the one who has sole responsibility for the remote control, switching to an address by Charles III, the man who would be declared the United Kingdom’s new ceremonial ruler the next morning.

It was only a day after the death of Queen Elizabeth, the longest serving British monarch. While the news of the Queen’s death and the events that followed had grabbed headlines, it was a rare sight to see the heads of beer-loving patrons turned by the switch from sport to news channels.

Mzilikazi’s grave

On the rare occasions when this happens, it is when whoever is holding the remote control is transitioning from one channel to another. But on this occasion, men who usually strain their necks for a sight of a rousing long range pile driver, had their eyes firmly set on the would-be King Charles as he said: “Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today.”

Through the wonder of modern technology, the message had been delivered from Buckingham Palace and received in a pub in Bulawayo which had pitifully few patrons on a Friday evening.

Perhaps on another day, there would have been nothing more to this address. However, for those in Bulawayo and other parts of Zimbabwe, it should have as it came on 9 September, the day that King Mzilikazi, the founder of the Ndebele state, is said to have lost his life in Mhlahlandlela.

As King Charles delivered his address, few, if any, of the patrons would have known of this. It is fact that is meant to gather dust in text books written by wizened historians.

Perhaps the contrast could not have been sharper the next day, when those that are familiar with the annual King Mzilikazi celebrations at Mhlahlandlela turned up in style to make the great trek along dusty Old Gwanda Road.

The sight of men in their loin clothes, holding shields and knobkerries and women in their skirts patterned with the traditional chevron design was a pulsating sight within the Bulawayo Central Business District. However, despite the queen’s death being the talk of the town, few had any idea what this sudden explosion of traditional fashion was inspired by. Perhaps this was hardly surprising, as the death of Queen Elizabeth has been a news item that is being recycled on every bulletin by the globe’s major broadcaster. After all, it is not every year that the British monarch passes away

However, even the nature of the celebrations would have caused alarm amongst those that regard culture dearly. The road to Mhlahlandlela is unkind and even the most fashion savvy was coated in a thin layer of dust by the time that the celebrations started. Many only got to know that the celebrations took place once they saw pictures and videos uploaded by the various media organisations that were present.

“A lot of our children do not know who this person that we take pride in today was. That history is not being taught anymore and I want to emphasise that let us teach our children who he was, because some of them don’t know,” said Sipho Gama of Mthwakazi ka Mzilikazi Cultural Association.

King Mzilikazi grave site in Matobo District. (Pictures by Nkosizile Ndlovu)

On Monday, 19 September, after over a week of pomp and bucket loads of televised tears, Queen Mzilikazi will be interred in the Royal Vault, Westminster Abbey’s King George VI Memorial Chapel. The vault, which dates back to the 15th century when it was constructed on King George III’s instructions, has been used for the interment of members of the Royal Family. Up to 24 members of the Royal Family have been interred there.

Only a few hundred kilometres from the festivities in Mhlahlandlela, lies the grave of King Mzilikazi. The grave is in a derelict state seemingly to be in a state of continuing state of neglect decay. Some shadowy figures have even attempted to hold rituals where only lizards and other creatures seem to keep the founding monarch of the Ndebele state.

While few deaths and burials possess the grandeur that has accompanied the exit of Queen Elizabeth, the celebration and commemoration of King Mzilikazi seem to fall far short of what some might expect of a monarch of his stature.

“This monument was built by white people in 1945 as they commemorated Mzilikazi but as people of Mthwakazi what have we done to also remember him?” historian Pathisa Nyathi posed the question as the curtain came down on celebrations last week.

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