Welcome to John Dunn Website
Hosted by Susan Nind-Barrett

Discover the remarkable life of John Dunn, the white Zulu chief whose extraordinary journey spanned the turbulent frontier between colonial Natal and Zululand during the Anglo-Zulu War. This site is curated by author Susan Nind-Barrett, whose acclaimed book Chief with Ears the Sunlight Shines Through explores Dunn’s unique story of loyalty, politics and survival.

Whether you are a student of South African history, a descendant of Dunn, or simply curious — you are welcome here.

An oil painting of John Dunn by Susan Nind-Barrett.

Oil Portrait by Susan Nind-Barrett

Chief With Ears the Sunlight Shines Through

John Dunn

He did not just witness history — he created it!

Dunn was a white man who became a Zulu chief — a remarkable figure who moved between worlds during one of the most turbulent periods in southern African history.

Born in the Cape Colony in 1834 and raised on the wild frontier of Natal, Dunn hunted buffalo, brokered peace with Zulu kings, and defied colonial expectations. His life is one of resilience, ambition, loyalty and betrayal — woven into the very fabric of Zulu and British colonial history.

"History rarely remembers the men who lived between the lines. But John Dunn lived there — boldly and with remarkable clarity.”

Here you will find insights, images and extracts from ongoing research into his life, including material from my book.

Read His Fascinating Biography:
"Chief with Ears the Sunlight Shines Through
- The Lost History of John Dunn "
by Susan Nind-Barrett

Click here to read more about the book or to order a copy.

John Dunn taling to Dabulmanzi who is mounted on horseback. circa 1880s. Two armed Zulu warriors stand by.

john dunn talking to dabulamanzi

Join the John Dunn conversation on Facebook

john dunn

Image: Original 19th-century sketch of
John Dunn, colourised by the author.

🌍 Inside Dunn’s World

The book is just the beginning.

John Dunn lived between two worlds — colonial official and Zulu chief, frontier trader and royal adviser, English settler and isiZulu speaker.

Around him moved a host of unforgettable figures: loyal warriors, sharp-eyed scouts, complex kin, and fierce observers of empire. Some were famous in their day. Others barely left a trace.

This section is about them — the known and unknown lives that stood in Dunn’s shadow, and sometimes, who shaped the shadow itself.