Letoya Makhene’s wife-to-be, Lebo Keswa, recently opened up about their lobola journey. This was the first time that their families had ever negotiated lobola for a same-sex marriage.
Letoya Makhene is prominent SA soapie actress and TV personality best known for her roles in Isidingo and Generations. If you haven’t been following her relationship journey, then all you need to know is that she is currently head over heels in love with her fianceé Lebo Keswa.
Keswa is a successful businesswoman and gay rights activist from Johannesburg. She’s also a political commentator and has written for The Sunday Independent and Daily Maverick.
The two lovers are set to tie the knot in the coming months and they took a massive step towards making that happen when they underwent their Lobola ceremony. As South African families become more understanding of the fact that love comes in many different forms and many kinds of relationships, it seems fitting that Lebo used the opportunity of their upcoming marriage to teach South Africans that traditional rituals can be performed for same-sex couples.
When Lebo told her uncles she wants to lobola Letoya
Admittedly, there will always be a few questions when two people of the same sex decided to tie the knot. Lebo and Letoya have made one of Mzansi’s cutest new couples, and last week their relationship turned even more serious as Lebo proposed to her actress-girlfriend – who said an emphatic YES! Speaking about taking the next traditional steps in the marriage process, Lebo took to Instagram to reveal how she broke the news to her family.
The businesswoman and LGBT rights activist said, “This is my uncle and he’s one of two remaining eldest uncles we have in the family. On this day I had asked him for a meeting and told him I want to get married. I have never been this interrogated in my life. My uncle is a retired teacher and one of the sharpest men I know. Just imagine me trying to explain to him that I want to marry another woman,”
Some parts of South Africa are still conservative when it comes to same-sex relationships, but for Letoya and Lebo, their families were willing to educate themselves before embracing the two lovers on their beautiful journey. Lebo added that her uncle did everything he could to welcome Letoya into their family as her wife-to-be. She added: “He learnt a lot about sexuality and my choices in life. He said he’s only ever seen these things on TV but now it was very close to home and he embraces it. He’s a very loving and understanding man, so the meeting went very well,”
Lebo also revealed that she had made a promise to Letoya’s father, the famous Blondie Makhene (imagine the pressure!). She vowed to return and “do the right thing” (in many South African cultures, respecting the process of Lobola and the various stages of marriage is seen as morally correct and will ensure that the marriage is blessed). With delight, Lebo took to Instagram to share the story of how she had honoured that promise.
Meanwhile, Letoya Makhene has opened up about how she is proud and privileged to live in a country like South Africa where everybody, regardless of their sexuality, can marry the person they love. She said to Sunday World, “We’ve come very far and I am grateful that I live in a time where I can celebrate my love for my partner in this way. As I settle down with my lifetime partner, I will always remember those who fought so hard for me to be able to be where I am today.”
All roads will now lead to Letoya and Lebo’s final wedding ceremonies. We expect them to conclude the traditional process with uMabo (a traditional wedding once all steps have been completed) and we also wouldn’t rule out a white wedding either!
– A4W
