The Making of Ndingubani

Beginning with long conversations around lyrics, memory and meaning, the process saw the pair immerse themselves in Bongeziwe's world, spending time with his family and gaining a deeper understanding of the experiences that shaped the album. Themes of home, heritage, nostalgia and belonging surfaced repeatedly, informing both the creative direction and visual language of the work.

Shot on film in the Eastern Cape, the project embraced honesty over perfection. Community members became part of the frame. Unplanned moments were left untouched. Family heirlooms, contemporary South African fashion and Bongeziwe's own artwork informed a body of work that feels deeply personal and distinctly local.

Credits //  Creative Direction: Chris Saunders & Chloe Andrea Welgemoed with Lampost, Photography: Chris Saunders, Design & Styling: Chloe Andrea Welgemoed, 1st Assistant: JM de Jager, 2nd Assistant: Suxoda, Garments: Ndiwavho Couture, Production: Black Major, Sevi Spanoudi, Production Coordinator: Sonja Myburgh Ellis, Production Manager: Aaron Peters

As Bongeziwe welcomed the team into his family home and shared stories of his upbringing, cultural research became an important part of the process. Styling drew from both personal artefacts and the work of South African designers whose practices engage with identity, heritage and place. Pieces by Rich Mnisi, Thebe Magugu, Neo Serati, Lukhanyo Mdingi, Mmuso Maxwell and Maxhosa featured throughout the project.

For Chris and Chloe, the visual approach centred on creating images that felt truthful to both the album and the environment in which it was made. Working predominantly on film encouraged a slower process, allowing space to observe, connect and respond to what was unfolding naturally.

One of the most memorable images emerged on arrival at Bongeziwe's mother's home in East London. Hanging inside was a large painting created by Bongeziwe himself, one of his earliest works. Drawn to its significance, Chris and Chloe incorporated it into a scene that would later become the album cover.

The resulting imagery carries the same qualities that sit at the centre of AmaXesha: reflection, vulnerability, loss and hope. Together, Chris and Chloe created a visual narrative that feels rooted in place, shaped by collaboration and attentive to the stories that already existed there.