Durban - Buzetsheni Mdletshe, who was a praise singer for decades to Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and now for his successor King Misuzulu says he would like to see new blood entering the field of praise singing.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the handover of the certificate of recognition to King Misuzulu by President Cyril Ramaphosa this past weekend.
Mdletshe recalled how he first saw the late king when he visited his father at kwaCeza in Zululand in the 1970s and how he eventually became his praise singer.
“When the king and his delegation was departing I raised my hand and recited a few lines which just came to my mind, he turned back and briefly looked at me and that is how it all began,” he told The Mercury.
Over the years Mdletshe has travelled to various parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the country accompanying King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu on official engagements to announce his arrival at venues.
Mdletshe emphasised the importance of praise singing as part of Zulu culture, adding that in a way the practice amounted to recording history.
He added that King Misuzulu was one of the most unique monarchs.
“He is one of the few kings whose father is from the royal family and his mother is from the Swazi royal family as well. So His Majesty occupies a unique position in the history of the institution,” Mdletshe stressed.
He pointed out that because of this he had fondly named him Indlulamithi (giraffe), expressing his belief that King Misuzulu would look after his subjects and the new nation with all the care and diligence required of his role.
“I refer to him as he who is covered by the sun from above and another from below because of the royal blood from both his paternal and maternal sides,” the praise singer explained.
Mdletshe pointed out that given his age, he was now hoping that a new and younger generation would take the baton and carry on with what he regards as a service to the nation.
In Zulu tradition and history praise singers occupy a unique position of history recording, but also play an advisory role to the king.