The king of the large Zulu community in South Africa challenged a struggle to professors and cultural experts, saying he was insulted along with the entire Zulu country.

King Misuzulu Kazwelithini challenged Professor Musa Xulu, who gathered at his newly built palace for the annual reed dance.

“We are angry that we will do anything to protect and protect our culture,” he said.

Professor Xulu told the BBC that he used the king’s personal challenge as a joke, but said he was worried about his safety if he was attacked by other Zulus.

“I received threats to hire an assassin,” he said, adding that he had filed a formal complaint with the police.

King Misuzulu didn’t exactly designate Professor Xulu’s anger at him, but he was quoted as saying: “It hurts me to see another man tell me how to do my job.”

According to the IOL website, he said: “If he opposes me, but when he insults me, he also insults the Zulu people.

The 50-year-old king said: “If his friend is here, tell him that he has a battle ring – if he wants to fight, because I can bring him up.”

Professor Xulu told the BBC that he thought the king was angry at an interview with local media, saying that the move to the new emashobeni palace could be seen as a waste, as the ceremony of Enyokeni Palace was held since 1984 at the southern dance party, the ceremony was introduced to the southern ritual.

But “talking about public finance is not an insult,” he said.

He added: “I’m not his spokesperson.”

“I have no personal opinion about the king.”

Regarding the issue of fighting, he said it was part of Zulu culture, but those battles had to be equal, “I am not the king.”

The 64-year-old professor also said he had not fought any battles since he was a teenager.

King Misuzulu was crowned in 2022, and his father was crowned for a long time after his long-term goodwill after Zwelithini, and then his mother was crowned soon after.

His two brothers challenged Misuzulu’s claim to the throne, but he was recognized by the Zulu royal family and South African countries.

The throne has no formal political power, but about one-fifth of South Africa’s 64 million people are Zulu, and its monarchy still has a huge impact, with a taxpayer funding budget of more than $4.9 million (£3.5 million) per year.

The Zulu Kingdom has a proud history. Defeating the British army in the Battle of Isandelwana in 1879 is world-renowned.