‘Black Mermaid’ making waves in Europe
SA’s ‘Black Mermaid’ actress, author and conservationist Zan-dile Ndhlovu is in the midst of a whirlwind tour of Europe, ahead of tomorrow’s SA premiere of her film, Shaped By Water.
The short film is directed by Dean Leslie and produced by Corinna Halloran, who produced it for 11th Hour Racing as a multi-part series in collaboration with environmental NGO Protect Our Winters.
The world premiere was held last month at the 27th Sonoma International Film Festival in Sonoma, California, followed by a media tour in New York City.
Last Friday, the Sowetoborn Ndhlovu was the master of ceremonies at the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development Africa session conference in Barcelona, Spain.
“The Africa session was focused on African oceans and the ocean decade narrative, and the whole question was around ‘who is we?’
“So if you look at the UN Ocean decade, the tagline is the science we need for the ocean we want” Ndhlovu said.
“And what’s often been troubling in the context of Africa, is that it has never been an African voice that puts forward what Africa needs, but has always been led by what the US and Europe think Africa needs.
“It was a panel discussion with prominent experts, presenting the science we need from an African perspective; writing a different future for our oceans and what resources we need; and a fireside chat around the financing mechanisms that are available to the African continent.”
The blue-haired beauty added: “What was amazing was that the IOC secretarygeneral made reference to our session, saying it was ‘so alive and energetic ’— and it was incredible to be a part of that session.”
While she was in Barcelona, Ndhlovu also made a video appearance on US television talk programme The Kelly Clarkson Show, where host Clarkson praised SA’s “Black Mermaid” for inspiring children through her latest book, Zandi’s Song, which launched at the end of last month on Amazon worldwide.
Ndhlovu, who won the segment’s sponsored prize of $1,000 (R19,093), talked about her first encounter with the ocean.
“I grew up in a landlocked area in Soweto in SA, and we grew up with these stories that told us to stay away from all bodies of water, and so in grade 6, I had this near-drowning incident.
“But then, as time went on, I learnt to swim, and in 2016, I found myself in Bali.
“I looked beneath the surface for the first time, and it was the most beautiful sight I could have ever imagined.”
The actress, named as one of BBC’s 100 Women in 2023, is in Venice, Italy, for the 60th Venice Biennale.
SA’s official art exhibition, Into the Light, opens on April 23, while will Shaped By Water premiere in SA at the Cape Town Adventure Film Festival tomorrow.