Unprecendented International Cover for Zulu Princess

Unique Cover Appearence for Princess Nandi Zulu

The Final Image in All it's glory

Overview

Princess Nandi Zulu is the first person, woman and African to feature on the cover of Leading Estates of the World. As a rule, the publication doesn’t feature people on its covers. But as spokesperson for one of the few places left to be discovered, Thanda Royal Zulu, Princess Nandi is the face of a celestial kingdom and worthy of an exception.

Protocols

Celebrated photographer David Dodds, who is widely considered to be a photographic icon, and Thanda CEO Pierre Delvaux, asked His Majesty King Zwelithini Goodwill kaBhekuzulu to nominate a spokesperson to represent Thanda Royal Zulu.

This person would serve as a travelling goodwill ambassador for Thanda and for the Zulus, on an international scale, and would also visually enhance the concept of a beautiful and majestic Zulu individual.

Because an empathetic person was required – and one who would be accessible to the wide world – His Majesty recommended his daughter, Princess Nandi. He was certain that she could fill both the tall order and the demands of international exposure.

Other images from the Photo shoot:

The shoot

David Dodds was en route to Johannesburg at the time, but when the call came he turned his car around and drove to Durban to meet Nandi: “I had to interact with her first, before knowing whether I could capture her character in photographs. It is essential to gauge a subject’s finer features in a face-to-face meeting”, says David.

And in no time at all, David had invited Nandi to Johannesburg for a proper, styled shoot.

The stylist had been asked to bring the relevant clothing, as well as two different manifestations of royal Zulu regalia, but after shooting four concepts, the magic David was after still proved elusive: “The stylist had an animal skin, which we wrapped round the Princess’ head – and in seconds I knew I had a winner!” says David.

The response

The images sparked widespread publicity and enormous interest from top publications across the globe, so much so that the New York-based Leading Estates of the World soon telephoned David.

Editor Rob Kelsey loved the images of Princess Nandi and decided to take the unprecedented step of placing her on the cover – instead of the French chateau, Tuscan villa or Thai beach house usually featured.

Kelsey even volunteered to run extra pages in the publication, to expose Thanda Royal Zulu to his 3 million-plus global readers.

The result? Princess Nandi Zulu has given new meaning to African beauty and Thanda Royal Zulu has revolutionised the international community’s understanding of Zulu heritage.