Misuzulu kaZwelithini: Zulu king challenges professor to stick fight in South Africa

Prof Musa Xulu tells the BBC he has received threats from hired assassins and has complained to the police.

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King Misuzulu kaZwelithini issued the challenge to Prof Musa Xulu in front of thousands of people who had gathered at his newly built royal palace for the annual Reed Dance.

"We are angry and we will do anything to protect and preserve our cultures," he said, according to the Timeslive news site.

Prof Xulu told the BBC he took the king's personal challenge as a joke, however he said he was worried for his safety in case he was attacked by other Zulus.

"I have received threats from hired assassins," he said, adding that he had lodged a formal complaint with the police.