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It’s official! Singer Nandi Mngoma was accepted as umakoti to the Madida family two weeks ago. Mngoma has been dating musician and producer Zakhele “Zakes Bantwini” Madida for more than three years.
This week, two people close to the couple told City Press that immediately after Madida found out he was going to be a father again, he quickly sent his family elders to pay lobola for the beautiful Mngoma.
“Everything happened so quickly. He paid lobola and they immediately went to the department of home affairs to be declared husband and wife. In the same week, they had an intimate celebration with family and close friends in Durban,” said a person close to Madida.
One of their close friends added: “Nandi comes from a very strict family, and in Zulu culture she is not allowed to get pregnant out of wedlock. It’s an embarrassment to both family and the community, and that’s why Zakes has to just do it.”
But it hasn’t been easy for the couple, as Mngoma’s family has rejected Madida’s lobola before.
In 2014, Daily Sun reported that Madida sent his elders to pay lobola, but he was rejected because the family was not ready to give away their daughter as they believed she was “too young”
for marriage. However, it seems that this time around, the family had no choice.
Mngoma is 28 and Madida is 34.
“Zakes loves Nandi and he had to do everything to make her and her family happy,” said a person close to Madida.
The friend added: “It wasn’t a wedding. After they went to sign the papers at home affairs, they celebrated with family and close friends. I’m not sure if they are planning to do a big wedding. That’s why even this intimate celebration was kept under wraps – they are both media-shy.”
Speculation surrounding Mngoma’s pregnancy began when she presented an award with her squeeze at the SA Music Awards recently. Audience members noticed that her famously flat six-pack stomach looked rounded.
On Wednesday, Sowetan published a photograph of Mngoma wearing a simple white wedding gown. In the picture, Mngoma is not seen posing with her new husband, but standing alongside Wow! Entertainment founder Monwabisi Grootboom.
When contacted for comment this week, Grootboom said: “My sister, you know what Photoshop can do these days – that’s not me in the picture.”
After he was pressed for information, he said: “I’m sorry I can’t help you. Why don’t you call both Nandi and Zakes?”
Mngoma is in Los Angeles for the Black Entertainment TV (BET) Awards. She didn’t respond to text messages and emails.
Madida also ignored calls and text messages.
Mngoma and Madida may be tight-lipped about their nuptials, but this week, while talking about the BET awards, Mngoma couldn’t help but show off the diamond engagement ring on her left hand.
