The king of South Africa's large Zulu community has challenged a professor and cultural expert to a stick fight, saying he had been insulted, along with the entire Zulu nation.

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.

King Misuzulu did not specify exactly what Prof Xulu had said to anger him but he was quoted as saying: It pains me to see another man telling me how to do my job.

It is okay if he is against me, but when he insults me, he insults the Zulu nation as well, he said, in what was reportedly an unusually short speech on one of the major events in the traditional Zulu calendar.

If his friends are here, go and tell him that there is a fighting ring - if he wants a stick fight because I can take him up, said the king, aged 50.

Prof Xulu believes the king was angered by an interview he gave to local media, in which he suggested that the move to the new eMashobeni palace could be seen as wasteful, given that a significant amount had already been spent on renovations of an older palace.

However, Xulu maintained, talking about public finance is not an insult.

I'm not his spokesperson, he added, noting that he has doctorates in Zulu music and cultural tourism. I have nothing personal against the king.

Regarding the stick-fighting, he stated that it is part of Zulu culture but expressed that fighting should involve equals and noted he does not consider himself equal to the king.

The 64-year-old professor also mentioned he hadn't done any stick-fighting since before his teenage years.

King Misuzulu was crowned in 2022 amidst disputes regarding his claim to the throne, but he is recognized by both the Zulu royal household and the South African government. The Zulu monarchy remains influential among South Africa's population today.

The Zulu kingdom has a proud history, including a stunning victory against British troops during the 1879 battle of Isandlwana.