Ndlunkulu Mawewe, the fourth wife of AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, has attracted widespread admiration after a video showed her speaking fluent Sepedi at a formal event.
The clip, which went viral on TikTok on 15 September 2026, was shared by royal couturier @xviii_victorian.
According to Briefly.co.za the footage captured a warm exchange between the queen and an older woman at what appeared to be an upscale indoor gathering.
The venue featured wood panelling, paintings and a rug, while guests wore formal Western-style clothing. Men appeared in suits, and women attended in long gowns.
Queen surprises woman with her language skills
The older woman approached Queen Mawewe and asked her in Sepedi whether she could speak the language.
The queen confirmed that she could. The woman then gestured towards a man standing behind her and asked whether Mawewe also taught King Misuzulu the language. The queen replied warmly that she taught him “a little bit”.
The response delighted the woman, who repeated the phrase while smiling.
The exchange resonated with online audiences, including readers across Kenya, where multilingualism is also a familiar part of everyday life. Many South Africans praised the queen’s ability to connect with people in their own language.
A royal with an impressive background
Queen Mawewe was born Princess Sihle Mdluli. She is a Swati princess, and her mother, Inkosi Khulile Mkhatshwa, serves as the female chief of the Mawewe Traditional Authority in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga.
Her lobola negotiations were completed in July 2026, with King Misuzulu reportedly paying between 70 and 80 cattle to formalise the union.
Away from her royal duties, Mawewe holds a BSc in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering and an MBA from the University of the Witwatersrand. She has also worked as a senior strategy and business development executive in South Africa’s mining and corporate sectors.
Her known languages include siSwati, isiZulu and English, while her fluent Sepedi has now drawn further attention.
Social media users react
Netizens were quick to express their admiration after a video of Zulu Queen Ndlunkulu Mawewe speaking Sepedi at a formal event went viral on TikTok.
The warm exchange between the queen and an older woman charmed viewers, who praised her multilingualism and personality.
The comments section was filled with admiration for the queen.
@Tshepiso Cathy Mogas said:
“I love her more now!!!”
@muntuza wrote:
“This was beautiful to watch ☺️”
@Afrika Valencia said:
“The king chose wisely on Queen Mawewe. She’s from a royal family 👑”
@Nonkuthalo wrote:
“Ndlunkulu Mawewe uyathandeka [Ndlunkulu Mawewe is so lovable] 😭❤️❤️”
@Xoli🇿🇦Swa added:
“Unendawana ngathi hu Winnie, the young Winnie Mandela [She looks a little like Winnie, the young Winnie Mandela] 🥰🥰🥰”
@Mthoffy asked:
“So why not use African languages anyway?”
Watch the moment that charmed social media.
