South Africa’s ethnic Zulu nation is preparing to host a coronation event for its new traditional king amid internal divisions that have threatened to tear the royal family apart.

On Saturday, King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini, a son of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini who died last March, will undergo the traditional ritual known as ukungena esibayeni (entering the royal village) to mark his installation as the new leader of the Zulu nation.

The Zulus are South Africa’s largest ethnicity with more than 12 million people who are mainly located in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal.

The Zulu nation is historically recognised as having waged fierce resistance to British colonialism under King Shaka Zulu from 1816 to 1828.

The ceremony is expected to be attended by thousands of Zulu people, including members of the royal family, traditional leaders of other ethnic groups and members of the Zulu nation.

It will proceed despite challenges from some members of the royal family who insist that Misuzulu is not the rightful heir to the throne.

Misuzulu is the eldest son of Zwelithini with his third wife Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, who is said to enjoy an elevated status among his six wives as she was born from the royal house of Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), the last remaining absolute monarchy in Africa.

Queen Dlamini-Zulu held the title of Regent of the Zulu nation after her husband’s death but died about a month later, naming her eldest son Misuzulu as the successor in her will.

However, some members of the royal family are opposed to Misuzulu as the successor, recognising his eldest brother, Simagade Zulu ka Zwelithini, as the rightful heir instead.

Last weekend, the rival family faction held the ukungena esibayeni ceremony for Simagade even though it was not recognised by the rest of the royal family’s elders who support Misuzulu as the rightful king.

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To further confuse the situation, on Thursday Zwelithini’s three brothers held a news conference in Johannesburg where they announced another of their brothers, Buzabazi kaZwelithini, as their preferred heir to the throne.

The late king reportedly fathered 28 children with his six wives.

The South African government recognises Misuzulu as the rightful heir to the throne and is set to award him a recognition certificate at a date still to be determined.

The position of King of the Zulu nation is an influential one in KwaZulu-Natal province as a custodian of the ethnic group’s traditional customs.

The king also wields control over vast swaths of land, estimated at about a third of KwaZulu-Natal or 28,000 square kilometres (10,810 square miles), through the Ingonyama Trust of which he is the sole trustee. (Al Jazeera)

•PHOTO: Zulu elders sing before the address of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini in Durban, April 20, 2015. Zwelithini on Monday described recent anti-immigrant attacks as 'vile', defending himself against claims that previous comments he made about foreigners had fuelled the unrest [File: Rogan Ward/Reuters]

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