Singer Buhlebendalo Mda-Mondi has married her longtime partner Botshelo Mondi-Mda after a series of ceremonies in Gauteng and the North West, TshisaLIVE reported.
The couple first held a small signing ceremony on 18 September. Traditional wedding celebrations followed at their family homes in Protea Glen, Soweto, on 26 September and in Tlhabane, Rustenburg, on 3 October.
“Our elders watched us grow in our love, it did not shock them that we wanted a traditional wedding, because we are strong believers of the preservation of Ubuntu bethu,” the couple told TshisaLIVE.
They said their beliefs were met with kindness and understanding by their families. “Nothing was genderised, everyone involved approached things with an open mindset. Our elders just wanted to be happy,” they said.
Botshelo said one of the best moments for her was when their elders shared words of wisdom, known as “Golaya”. She also said a speech made by their daughters stood out for her.
For Buhlebendalo, the most special moment came when Botshelo’s family gave her a new name.
The weddings took place close to Pride Month. The couple said the timing was not planned. “To be honest, this was a beautiful coincidence. We think the universe planned this ahead of us,” they said.
They added that queer identity matters to them. “We do not only advocate for gender equality but also for self-actualisation,” the couple said.
The pair first met in 2009 at the Vaal University of Technology. At the time, Botshelo was studying fine art. Buhlebendalo was building her music career with the group The Soil.
They stayed friends for about ten years. They started dating in 2019.
Botshelo proposed first, in 2020, while she was directing the music video for the song Mdali. When the last scene was done, cast members held up small handwritten messages. The final message asked the singer to marry her.
Buhlebendalo then proposed to Botshelo at her birthday dinner later that same year. The couple said the promise was first made in a private setting with close friends around them.
The two said the days before the wedding were full of emotions. Because they also work in events, planning their own wedding taught them about the business side of their union.
“When we started planning, we told ourselves that this is our biggest project, just to manage our emotions in between,” they said.
The couple said they are looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together. “The energy is liberating, knowing that you have someone who will always be in your corner,” they said.
“We are excited to grow old together as friends more than anything and make lots of money,” the couple told TshisaLIVE.
Source: this article is based on reporting by TimesLIVE. Image: TimesLIVE. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.