A Surprise Wedding on Christmas Eve
Mpho Tshabalala, the widow of kwaito star Mandoza, still remembers their surprise wedding on Christmas Eve in 2003. Mandoza, whose real name was Mduduzi Tshabalala, had planned the surprise wedding with their families, and Mpho was caught off guard.
A Small Ceremony with Family
Mpho recalls the day vividly, saying that she was getting her hair braided in Pimville, Soweto, when Mandoza walked in and announced that it was time to get married. The ceremony was a small, intimate affair with their families present. “I was so shocked because I didn’t know what he was talking about. It turns out the elders in our family thought a Christmas wedding would be perfect for us to become Mr and Mrs Tshabalala.”
A Big Wedding Celebration
The couple later had a big wedding celebration on May 8 and 9, 2004, which was held at Mandoza’s home in Pimville. Mpho says that Mandoza had always wanted a traditional wedding celebration, and they blocked off the street to accommodate their guests. “I wanted to get a nice venue and get married there. But we had the wedding at his home where we blocked the street. It was because he had seen weddings held ekasi and he loved them, so he wanted his wedding to be like that as well.”
Celebrating Their Anniversary
Mpho and their children still celebrate their wedding anniversary every year, and this year will be no exception. Although Mandoza passed away in 2016 due to brain cancer, Mpho says that they will still celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary in 2024 with a small family gathering. “We would’ve thrown a bash at a stadium to say we are celebrating a huge milestone. I actually didn’t realise that I was this old.”
A Promise to Never Remarry
Mpho has vowed never to remarry, saying that she still keeps all of Mandoza’s belongings and memories close to her heart. She says that she will always cherish the memories they made together and will never forget the love they shared. “I still keep them because I’ll never get married again. So, as we were looking at them, we decided to celebrate the anniversary.”
Conclusion
Mpho Tshabalala’s story is a testament to the power of love and the memories that we make with our loved ones. Although Mandoza may be gone, his memory lives on through Mpho and their children, and their love story will always be remembered.