Bull-killing ritual is a tradition in Zulu kulture

Description:

Introduction

A Zulu annual tradition to kill a black bull with bare hands by young and newly anointed Izinyosi (also known as the Bees) recently took place at the Zulu King Zwelithini's enyokeni Palace in Nongoma, Kwazulu Natal.

An application for an interdict against the Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and three government departments from going ahead with the ritual by the Animal Rights Africa (ARA), which sought to interdict was declined by the High court in Pietermaritzburg.

The High court reason that it was satisfied with the evidence of a cultural expert, Professor Jabulani Mapalala, that the ARA's objection to the ritual was based on untrue information and hearsay and that the ceremony is a symbolic way of thanking God for the first crops of the season.

The Event

The killing of a black bull by the young and newly anointed Izinyosi regiment is a well co-ordinated and dramatic spectacle watched by thousands at the rural town if Nongoma Kwazulu Natal.

Warriors, dressed in traditional attire, moving into a huge kraal inside the palace. They sing war songs and chanted slogans in praise of present and past kings, led by the king's praise singer, Buzetsheni Mdletshe.

At the same time there is a hive of activity in a small kraal within the bigger one, built out of green leaves, where the king was with the traditional healers.

The King clad in traditional attire, complete with headgear decorated with coloured feathers is fetched from the small kraal by senior regiment, wearing headgear decorated with white feathers.

On the other side of the kraal a group of young men, half naked, had gathered but did not join in the singing and chanting and those in the know suggested they take intelezi, a muti concoction to strengthen them as they took on the bull.

A herd of cattle, numbering about 100, is then brought into the kraal.

Any journalists present is asked to take their cameras, cellphones and note books outside the palace and allowed to return as part of the Zulu nation to watch the bull killing.

All the cattle, except one black bull, are then taken out of the kraal where the king start giving orders to the warriors.

It will not take more than two minutes to put the bull down. There is a medal for the one who brings it down.

Before the warriors could go for it, a traditional healer sprinkle intelezi over it in a bid to weaken it.

The chants of "sayibamba inkunzi sayishumpula" reached a crescendo as the warrior’s moves towards it and in few seconds one of them will grab it by its horns to bring it down.

Then all the warriors descended on it, forming a


circle, and spectators tried to gain a vantage point.

The chanting will go on for a few minutes, after which the bull is dead.

The warriors and the crowd will then leve the kraal, leaving traditional healers to work on the bull. It will later be skinned and eaten.

Those in the know say its gall would be mixed with muti to be taken by the king and the new regiment to mark the strengthening of the king and the nation.

Court ruling

The Zulu people say that the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling allowing Zulus to go ahead with their bare-handed killing of a bull had paved the way for cultural tolerance.

Events leading up to the decision of the Pietermaritzburg High Court were unfortunate but have demonstrated the need for the emergence of champions of reconciliation and cultural tolerance as it promote freedom of worship and religion. Our constitution was designed specifically to protect all cultures and customs practised by our people. This is specifically meant to protect the minority communities from any form of discrimination.

ARA expressed disappointment at the pronouncement, saying it was "distressing".

"That ARA lost this case is distressing to us," it said. "However, this pales into insignificance for us in comparison to the fact that the fate is sealed for the innocent bull that will be used in the ritual tomorrow.

As part of a global movement that cuts across all continents, all cultures, all ethnic and racial groups, ARA will continue to work for compassion, respect, dignity and inclusive justice.

The ruling party in South Africa, the ANC believe that no organisation should ever be allowed to dictate how other

Cultures should practice their traditions and customs.