Queen Ukulungile of Ophiri Intaba
The Princess Ukulungile of Ophiri was born 23rd of February 1983 in the remote Royal city of Intaba in the small traditional Kingdom of Ophiri. Ophiri is a former independent kingdom ruled by an exclusively female tribal chief claiming descent from the legendary Queen of Sheba. It is now, after the Bloody revolution of 1995, a province of the Republic of Africana. It still retains its traditional Royal family who wield no official power, but tremendous symbolic status amongst the people. The Royal family manages a vast property and natural resources portfolio in trust of the tribal peoples of Ophiri. Their private wealth is said to rank amongst the highest in all Africa.
Africa was only affected politically by the Bloody revolution of 1995 and as such the Princess and her family remained safe and respected by their people even if stripped of political influence. However the Family’s symbolic power is hugely prominent and as such they’re committed to to improve economic and social development in Ophiri.
The revolution led to a temporary interim government which passed a law that upon the old Queen’s death, Ukulungile’s father would be the first male chief of Ophiri as the traditional laws were not in accordance with a modern democratic republic. As such her accession, skipping her father, could lead to political strife. Later in 2008 the small province mourned the passing of King Kozi 1 who then passed the reins to his daughter. Upon her father’s death the original line of accession resumed. Queen Ukulungile the 38th of Ophiri saw this chain of events as a blessing in disguise as she did not approve of the old sexist tradition excluding men from rule.
The Queen is a supporter of non-sexist equality and also a huge patron of African art, music and fashion. As head of the Royal house she has taken a hands-on interest in the Royal Trust managing the traditional territories of Ophiri, its vast nature reserves and natural wealth including gold and diamond mines. She vehemently and publically opposes illegal mining operations and even survived an assassination attempt by illegal diamond cartels in 2009 when she spoke out against illegal diamond trade at the UN. She has poured her time, passion and family fortune into growing her people’s prosperity by mainly focusing on education and international trade. In this vein she hosts an annual jewellery design competition to grow the industry in Africa.
The prospect of marriage is a hot topic and will remain so, for both the Queen and the tabloids, until the inevitable happens. Long Live Her Majesty Queen Ukulungile XXXVIII of the kingdom of Ophiri.
The Spirit of Music