Cyprian Bhekuzulu

Cyprian Bhekuzulu Nyangayezizwe kaSolomon (4 August 1924 – 17 September 1968) was the king of the Zulu nation from 1948 until his death at Nongoma in 1968. He succeeded his father, king Solomon kaDinuzulu, after a lengthy succession dispute which was only resolved in 1944. His uncle, Arthur Mshiyeni kaDinuzulu, functioned as regent during the succession dispute and Cyprian's minority. There was conflict between Bhekuzulu and Zacharia M. Zulu on who is going to be king, Bhekuzulu(younger) was chosen, living Zacharia(older) to leave and separately start a new family at Mtubatuba with his wife Phumzile and 7 children.

Cyprian ascended the throne as a chief of uSuthu and never as a Paramount Chief until 1951 when he was recognised as such by the white minority government of South Africa. Even then, he was a social head with no real power. Not since 1879 has anyone been recognised as a head of the Zulu people with an exception of Cyprian's uncle (acting Paramount Chief Mshiyeni) but even he was a regent. This title was granted to him because the government wanted to secure a Bantustan and not out of genuine care for the man or the Zulu people.^[1]