Leni Riefenstahl-Africa

Published in 2002 on the occasion of her 100th birthday, this book brings together Leni Riefenstahl’s astonishing Africa portfolio. The first female film director to attract international acclaim, Riefenstahl began frequent trips to Africa in her early sixties, where she worked on various film and photography projects. Her favorite destination was Sudan, where she immersed herself in the Nuba tribe, learning their customs and their language.

As warm and welcoming people, the Nuba offered Riefenstahl some escape from her past as a protégé of the Third Reich. She would later recall her experiences in Africa as the happiest moments in her life. This monumental book gathers her images of the Nuba, as well as of the Dinka, Shilluk, and Masai tribes into a deeply evocative publication, capturing not only the beauty, expression, and age-old customs of the Nuba, but also Riefentahl’s profound respect and love for these people and their land.