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Keith Thomas, center, stands as his supporters get ready to celebrate his win as King Zulu 2027 during the announcement of the Zulu leadership and royalty election winners outside the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club in New Orleans, Sunday, May 31, 2026.

 STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER

You may have heard of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona. No? Maybe you’ve heard of , the man credited with the emergence of the Zulu Nation in the 19th century by bringing together rival groups to form a powerful empire in what today is the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa.

Shaka Zulu was a king, not a president. He was so successful with the frontal assault, close combat and reserve military approaches, demanding discipline and cutting weak links that there are Shaka Zulu business strategies and management trainings today.

There was no election. Like so many kings, Shaka Zulu became king by his royal bloodline.

That’s not how things work with the . There are men in who are legacy members, sons, nephews and relatives of some longtime members, some of whom were characters, kings or presidents. But Zulu is a democratic, “everyman” organization.

Former U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond and John F. Kennedy High School band director Keith Thomas wanted to be Zulu King 2027. As usual, there were campaigns, platforms, solicitations of endorsements and support. Zulu campaigns often require significant energy and thousands of dollars, including spending on billboards, flyers, phone banks, parties and picnics. It’s a serious campaign for members who want to be king and those who want to be special characters. Elections include using several official Louisiana Secretary of State voting machines.

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Times-Picayune columnist Will Sutton on Thursday, September 12, 2019.

Thomas had a campaign slogan: “Loyalty Deserves Royalty.” Richmond went with “Let’s Geaux.”

Zulu elections are for members only, but the announcement of the election results for the king and other characters is a public event. Longtime Zulu member Darryl Richardson, a New Orleans EMS field supervisor captain and chairman of the group’s elections committee, announced club election results from the Zulu headquarters balcony early Sunday evening as a crowd of at least 1,000 partied, second-lined and awaited the results in a drizzle.

One in-the-field, workerbee king candidate. One nationally prominent, rainmaker king candidate. Zulu members would have to make a choice.

Absentee, or votes cast during the Zulu early voting period, were not counted until Sunday afternoon as in-person voting continued. Those results might have been an early indicator of what might happen:

Richmond: 51.

Thomas: 91.

That’s a 40-vote difference.

Election Day voting yielded Thomas 259 votes and Richmond got 248 votes. Total votes:

Thomas: 350.

Richmond: 299.

A difference of 51 votes.

It wasn’t the closest Zulu king election. King Zulu 2012 won by six votes. King Zulu 2019 won by five votes.

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Thomas, a 1988 John F. Kennedy High School graduate, was in the Southern University marching band and left the accounting career he had worked toward for his passion, music. He’s been the band director at Kennedy and its predecessor school since 2011. He was assistant chair of the Zulu parade committee from 2010-2018, and he’s been the parade committee chair since 2018.

Richmond, a Zulu member since 2006, graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1991 then went to Morehouse College, and graduated from Tulane University Law School. He’s had a career in government, politics and public service, including a stint in the White House as an advisor to President Joe Biden. And he has a track record for attracting attention — and raising money.

“Some people told me that I was crazy,” Thomas told me. They thought it would be impossible. But, as one Zulu member told me, outsiders might be surprised by the result, but he wasn’t. “They don’t get us. I am us. I’m a member.”

The last time Thomas ran for king, he came in third among five candidates. The way he looks at it, this is his time, and there’s a calendar blessing of proof.

Previously, Thomas was Big Shot, one of the most colorful and memorable characters. He was elected on May 31, 2015. He paraded as Big Shot on Feb. 9, 2016. He was elected Zulu King 2027 on May 31, 2026. He will parade as the Zulu king on Feb. 9, 2027.

Zulu elections are held on the last Sunday of May, usually on Memorial Day weekend. Members who moved elsewhere after Hurricane Katrina or for other reasons often return to fellowship, socialize and vote in person. This year was different. The last Sunday came after Memorial Day weekend.

“I’ve got to give it to Keith for all of his hard work,” Richmond told me.

Thomas and Richmond shook hands when the result was announced Sunday.

One of the things I love about Zulu is their hard, tough and fun campaigning that spills outside of the membership with picnics, parties and more, but winners and losers come together the next day for a post-election lunch as they move forward. Together.

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The 2027 Zulu-elect characters stand together Monday, June 1, 2026 during a post-election lunch at Zulu headquarters on North Broad Street in New Orleans. From left to right,

Zulu Governor Robert Jackson,  Finance Manager with All Star Automotive Group;

Zulu Mayor Derrick Gardner, Owner of Fatt's Ironworks; Zulu Witch Doctor Jamar McKneely, InspireNOLA CEO; King-Elect Keith Thomas, band director at John F. Kennedy High School;

Zulu Big Shot Frederick Lee, Deputy Sheriff with East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office; Zulu Ambassador Contrelle Lawson, Construction Coordinator with Atmos Energy; Zulu Province Prince Roderick Mitchell, Sr.,  Reired Command Sergeant Major from U. S. Army, and Zulu Mr. Big Stuff Edward Jones, Federal Security Officer with Allied Universal.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@theadvocate.com. Find him on Instagram at @editorwillsutton.

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