MELAMINA THE QUEEN

CHAPTER 51

I am woken up by screams and ululations two days later. The day before the coronation. Everyone is in a good mood, but ululations this early in the morning? Something must be going on. I get from the bed, quickly put on my gown and sleepers before heading out. The noise is coming from the front side of the palace. If it’s one of our guests, they would have to pardon me for the attire. The front door is already opened, so I run outside and I am confused by people kneeling on the yard. What the hell? I look around, but I finally get answers when i see him. He is carrying a dead animal on his shoulders. My husband is back. I run to him and stop just two feet away from him.

“Ndabezitha, you are back? Ubuyile kwisdudla sakho?” I ask in a whisper. There is something different about him, about his aura and his physique. How can someone change in just two nights? He smiles, charming the hell out of me.
“I am back, mkami. You look beautiful.” Even his voice is deeper. Hhay this man is a walking stimulator.
I giggle, suddenly self conscious about the way i look. I haven’t even brushed my teeth for God sake. “I missed you so much. Can i hug you?”
He smiles and shakes his head. “Later. I need to get this done first and i will come find you.”

“Are you sure?” i ask and his uncle laugh.
“MaCele, we understand he is your man, but he is our king and he has to fulfil his duties first. Siyacela Wena wangasenhla, allow him to pass. He won’t come with us while you are giving him that look.” Uncle Sakhisizwe states and Kuhle chuckles. I nod and then step back. I didn’t even realize that there are people taking videos. Yoh, I will be trending before i even step inside the palace.

I hear people singing. There are men at the gate carrying sticks singing ‘uyamemeza okaNdaba uyinkosi yoHlanga.’ It’s happening. It is really happening. Today the king will be entering the kraal which is one of the ceremonies that need to be done, leading to the actual coronation. I quickly run back to my room and bath. I can’t be seen outside in a gown on such a big day. When I step out of the bathroom, there is an outfit already laid out for me. One of the helpers, Bongeka, is standing near my bed.

“Your Royal Highness, would you like me to assist you with your hair and makeup?” she asks and i smile before sitting on the dresser chair.
“I would like that very much.” I haven’t had time to actually do my hair or even nails. I was so caught up in the ceremonies that I had to do for izidalwa. “You know how to install a weave, right?” she nods. “Then please take my 32 inch straight lace frontal wig and help me install it. It’s in the closet and all the tools are there.”

She goes to the closet and comes back to help me with the installation. While she is doing my hair, I check on my phone. Some royals from outside the country are already on their way. Most will be spending their night in Durban since they are more hotels there. Kuhle wanted to book for all of them but these people are rich, they can afford their own accommodation. With regards to their transport, I knew it would be difficult to get them here, already there is traffic leading to the palace, so we organized choppers to fetch them 30 minutes from here so that it would save time. Royals hate traffic.

When Bongeka is done with the installation, she moves on to my make-up. Since I want something natural, it doesn’t take her more than half an hour to finish. I get dressed, putting on a head wrap and umhlonipho around my shoulders. Umhlonipho is a shawl that married men put around their shoulders when they are at their in-laws house or at any event that requires them to act like a makoti, like perform their makoti duties.

I finally show my face downstairs and people compliment me. The singing and praises are still going on outside. I know we have to cater for all the men out there. The food that had to be bought for this ceremony, yoh. Luckily my husband has about thousands of cows, so they are going to slaughter a dozen from the kraal. We are still not sure about the number of attendants tomorrow but we are expecting thousands of people who will come and witness this huge ceremony. Even with alcohol, Sbo had to call SAB and order straight from them. Hopefully it will be enough.