FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12 November 2026
Princess Eugene Majuru uses her own image to recreate the face of ancestral King Mbari in groundbreaking children’s history book
Royal descendant combines family resemblance, ancestral heritage and artificial intelligence to bring the forgotten King of Harare to life for a new generation
LEICESTER, UNITED KINGDOM, 12 November 2026 — In an extraordinary fusion of ancestral heritage and modern technology, HRH Princess Eugene Majuru, Princess of Harare, has revealed how she used her own photograph to create an artistic representation of her royal ancestor, King Mbari, for her newly published children’s book, King Mbari of Harare: The King Who Never Slept.
The 179-page educational book, whose Kindle edition was published on 12 November 2026, introduces children to the ancestral history of the Mbari royal family, the Neharava chieftainship and the origins of Harare as preserved in the family’s oral traditions. The paperback edition is currently in preparation.
However, one of the most distinctive aspects of the publication is the creation of King Mbari’s illustrated appearance, developed using the facial features of one of his living descendants.
When the face of a descendant becomes a bridge to the past
With no authenticated historical photograph or portrait of King Mbari established for the book, Princess Eugene faced an important creative challenge: how could she introduce children to a king whose appearance had not been preserved in a verified visual record?
Rather than present an unrelated face as that of her ancestor, she chose to use her own photograph as the starting point for an AI-assisted artistic interpretation.
Through the creative process, her image was transformed into the imagined appearance of an elderly African king, with darker skin, greying hair, a white beard, traditional royal attire and symbols representing leadership.
The resulting portrait depicts King Mbari as a dignified elder, wearing a leopard-patterned royal mantle and carrying a ceremonial staff.
Although the illustration is not a verified likeness of the historical ruler, it represents a deliberate attempt to connect the present generation of the Mbari royal family with its ancestral past.
Princess Eugene described the process as deeply personal.
“I wanted the children reading this book to be able to look into the face of King Mbari and imagine the person behind the history.
“But there was a challenge. We do not have an authenticated portrait of him. I did not want to simply select the face of a stranger and present it as my ancestor.
“I therefore decided to use my own photograph as a reference. As a descendant of the Mbari royal lineage, I felt that this would create a meaningful symbolic connection between the generations.
“Through artificial intelligence, my image was transformed into an elderly representation of King Mbari. It was a remarkable experience to see how modern technology could help me create a visual interpretation of an ancestor whose story has been passed down through generations.”
A portrait inspired by ancestry, not a claim of historical certainty
Princess Eugene emphasised that the illustration must not be confused with an authenticated historical portrait.
King Mbari lived before the arrival of British colonial settlers in 1890, and the author has been careful to distinguish documented history, family oral tradition and artistic imagination throughout the publication.
“The image is not proof of what King Mbari actually looked like. I want to make that absolutely clear,” she explained.
“It is an artistic reconstruction inspired by my own appearance, our family’s ancestral identity and the way I wanted to introduce him to children.
“We cannot use artificial intelligence to establish the true facial appearance of someone who lived generations ago without reliable historical evidence.
“However, we can use technology responsibly to help children visualise historical figures, provided we are transparent about how those images were created.”
The book includes an explanation of the illustration’s creation so that young readers understand the distinction between an imagined representation and a historically authenticated likeness.
Bringing the royal history of Harare into the modern world
For Princess Eugene, the creation of the portrait forms part of a wider mission to preserve the ancestral history of the Mbari royal family and the Neharava chieftainship.
According to Mbari royal oral tradition, King Mbari was a respected traditional ruler associated with territories including Harare, Mazowe, Mount Hampden, Concession, Nyabira and Seke.
The family remembers him as a leader who welcomed people seeking guidance, protection and assistance.
He became known in the family’s oral tradition as Haarari, meaning “the one who never slept”, an account preserved by the royal lineage as an explanation of the name Harare.
Princess Eugene believes that visual storytelling can make these ancestral narratives more accessible to younger generations, particularly children who have never encountered the history of the Mbari royal family.
“Children are naturally curious. When they see a picture, they begin asking questions. Who was this king? Where did he live? What did he do? Why is his history important?
“That curiosity creates an opportunity for learning.
“I want children to understand that African history did not begin with colonialism. Our communities had leaders, traditions, systems of governance and established cultural identities long before colonial occupation.”
Artificial intelligence as a tool for cultural preservation
The project also raises broader questions about the role of emerging technology in preserving African cultural heritage.
Across the continent, many ancestral histories continue to be transmitted through oral traditions, while visual records of historical figures may be limited or unavailable.
Princess Eugene believes that artificial intelligence, when used responsibly and transparently, can support cultural storytelling and education.
“Technology should not replace historical research, oral traditions or the knowledge held by our elders. It should help us communicate that knowledge to new generations.
“In creating King Mbari’s image, I was not trying to manufacture historical evidence. I was using modern technology to create an illustration that would make the story more engaging and meaningful to children.
“The most important thing is to explain clearly what is historical fact, what comes from oral tradition and what has been artistically imagined.”
The book’s illustrations are presented in black and white, partly to help keep future paperback printing costs manageable.
A royal legacy carried through generations
Princess Eugene said the experience of creating King Mbari’s image also strengthened her personal connection to the responsibility of preserving her family’s heritage.
As Princess of Harare and Sovereign Custodian of the Mbari royal heritage, she has long advocated for greater recognition of the family’s ancestral history and the restoration of the Neharava chieftainship.
She sees the publication as part of a broader effort to ensure that children in Zimbabwe have opportunities to learn about the histories of the communities from which they come.
“There is something powerful about looking at an artistic image of your ancestor and knowing that your own photograph helped create it.
“For me, it represents continuity. Generations come and go, but heritage can survive when people make the effort to preserve it.
“I hope that when children see King Mbari’s illustration, they will not simply see a king wearing traditional clothing. I hope they will see a reason to ask questions about their own grandparents, ancestors and family histories.
“Our ancestors lived the history. We have a responsibility to preserve it. Our children will carry it into the future.”
The book behind the image
King Mbari of Harare: The King Who Never Slept is an illustrated children’s history and heritage book intended primarily for readers aged seven to twelve.
Through storytelling, cultural explanations and educational activities, the book introduces young readers to King Mbari, the Shumba Gurundoro lion totem, the Neharava chieftainship and the importance of preserving Zimbabwe’s ancestral heritage.
The story follows Gogo, Tariro and Tinashe as they explore the history of Harare and discover the significance of the royal traditions passed down through generations.
Princess Eugene hopes eventually to make paperback copies available to schools and libraries throughout Zimbabwe.
The Kindle edition was published on 12 November 2026 through Amazon KDP, while the paperback edition remains in preparation.
About HRH Princess Eugene Majuru
HRH Princess Eugene Majuru is the Princess of Harare, a descendant of the Mbari royal lineage and Sovereign Custodian of the family’s ancestral heritage.
She is an author, journalist, cultural heritage advocate and founder and Editor-in-Chief of News of The South.
Her literary works include CHOSEN: Mbari — The Forgotten Kings of Zimbabwe, A Concise History of Harare’s Mbari Clan, African Royal Etiquette and the Harare: A City in Decline series.
Her work focuses on African history, traditional leadership, cultural identity, education and the preservation of ancestral knowledge.
Publication information
Book: King Mbari of Harare: The King Who Never Slept
Author: HRH Princess Eugene Majuru
Kindle publication date: 12 November 2026
Paperback: In preparation
Manuscript length: 179 pages
Recommended reading age: 7–12 years
Publisher: Independently published through Amazon KDP
Media enquiries and interview requests
HRH Princess Eugene Majuru
Princess of Harare
Editor-in-Chief, News of The South
Email: harareprincess@gmail.com or harareprincess@gmail.com
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