Local rapper X-Nasty of Def Boyz fame got married to his longtime girlfriend Nomalanga Mkhize in unique style on Saturday at a high profile ceremony at the newly-revamped Makana Resort Conference Centre.
Local rapper X-Nasty of Def Boyz fame got married to his longtime girlfriend Nomalanga Mkhize in unique style on Saturday at a high profile ceremony at the newly-revamped Makana Resort Conference Centre.
The rapper was at a loss for words when he addressed the packed conference centre and said that he was overwhelmed with emotion because he had not anticipated such a huge turnout. X-Nasty, whose real name is Xolile Madinda, exchanged vows with Nomalanga, who is the daughter of ANC provincial chairman and KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize, in front of their family and friends. The bride wore a striking khaki and beige dress while the groom donned a khaki/beige suit. The Port Elizabeth-based accoustic soul band Usiba Noncwadi entertained the guests with lively tunes such as These are the times and Ungathinina (the couple’s wedding song) between speeches.
X-Nasty’s mother Nolulamile Menzi told the guests that it was her son’s childhood dream not to marry "any of the Grahamstown girls". "I once asked him how did he plan to meet a girl from outside our shores, he told us that girls from other towns come here to study," she explained. "I never really took him seriously."
Zweli Mkhize said his daughter is easy-going and advised X-Nasty to sit down with her so that they can talk through their problems. "We ‘ve never had reports suggesting she was unruly," he said.
The ceremony unfolded in a relaxed non-religious environment with Spirals director Theresa Edlmann facilitating the process. A nervous marriage officer from Home Affairs department oversaw the legalities while confessing that she had never officiated in front of a big crowd as she is used to working in the privacy of her office.
In addition to the families of the couple, friends from different walks of life came to celebrate with the happy couple. Local artists and academics rubbed shoulders and exchanged contacts while friends took turns posing for photographs with the newly-weds.
Rhodes University vice chancelllor Saleem Badat and his wife Shireen sat next to the university’s Dean of Humanities Prof Fred Hendricks and his wife Dr. Monica Hendricks. Also in attendance were university staff, especially from the history department where Nomalanga was junior lecturer, including Head of Department Paul Maylam and his wife Gill.
Nomalanga is one of the presenters of Shoreline, a series that provides a broad overview of what the ecology and history of our country’s shore, which was broadcast on SABC 2 recently.
