TRIBUTE TO HIS MAJESTY KING GOODWILL ZWELITHINI kaBHEKUZULU On the Occasion of the Unveiling of His Bust - 11th Bayede Diwali Festivale Mashobeni Royal Palace, 23rd October 2026 By Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu Bayede!
His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Amakhosi, Izinduna, Members of the Zulu Royal Family, Distinguished Guests, Faith Leaders, Members of the Media, My Brothers and Sisters of all communities, Sawubona! Namaste! We gather today not in mourning, but in celebration of a life that continues to illuminate our Kingdom.
Ten years ago, His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, my Father, my King, my Mentor, had a vision. He called me to him and said:"Mabheka, indodana yethu, we must build a bridge where others built walls. Bring your people, the Indian community, to my Palace. Let us light the lamp of Diwali together at Bayede, so that KZN may see that we are one family.
"From that divine vision, the Bayede Diwali Festival was born. And today, at the 11th Festival, we honour the Architect of that unity. Many know me as Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman. But it was His Majesty who gave me my true identity - Mabheka Zulu - the one who looks after his people. He did not see my colour or my origin. He saw my heart. He bestowed upon me the highest honour - to be called "indodana yethu - our son" of the Zulu Royal House.
He taught me that everything happens by the Will of God, and that as one door closes, another opens. When he departed, he left that door wide open for His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini to continue his legacy of unity. And today, His Majesty has done so with such grace and power.
Unveiling of the BustYour Majesties, today we unveil this Bust of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, not as a statue of stone, but as a living symbol. The light of Diwali that never goes out. The bridge between the Zulu and Indian communities that can never be broken. The fatherly love that embraced a son from another community and made him a Prince of his House. Let this Bust stand at eMashobeni as a witness that: Diwali is not merely a festival of lights.
It is the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and unity over division. His Legacy Lives on! As long as the Bayede Diwali Festival is celebrated, as long as a Zulu child and an Indian child light a diya together, as long as we say "Bayede" and "Namaste" in one breath His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu lives.
May his soul continue to guide us. On behalf of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation and my family, I humbly thank His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini for granting us permission to honour our Father in this sacred manner at his Palace.
Long Live the King! Bayede! Ulwandle Olukhulu! Bayede! Wena WeNdlovu!
PRINCE ISHWAR RAMLUTCHMAN MABHEKA ZULU Royal Ambassador for Social Cohesion and Economic Development