Former South African president Nelson Mandela's grandchildren have decided to air their own reality show "Being Mandela," which will premiere Sunday on NBC's
COZI TV.The show follows Mandela's 30-something granddaughters, Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway and Swati Dlamini, as they navigate the usual family dramas and rivalries...just as the flesh and blood of one of South Africa's most beloved political figures.
The girls said they have their grandfather's blessing to go ahead with the show.
"We get asked this question a lot. Is this not going to tarnish the name and is this not going to be bad for the name?" Swati Dlamini told the Associated Press. "But our grandparents have always said to us, this is our name too, and we can do what we think is best fitting with the name, as long as we treat it with respect and integrity."
Technically, the two women don't carry the Mandela name: their parents are Zenani Mandela and Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini of Swaziland, and Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela continues to be actively involved in the girls' lives.
The two also revealed that their 94-year-old granddad and legendary statesman has his own reality TV guilty pleasure.
"You'll be interested to know that he loves [TLC's] Toddlers and Tiaras," Swati told the Guardian, to which Zaziwe added: "Because of the kids! He just loves children."
- globalpost.com
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