The woman Nathi married
MPHO Maroane Letlabika is the woman who has claimed the heart of South Africa’s best-selling crooner Nathi Mankayi.
The notoriously private Mankayi reluctantly confirmed to Sowetan last week that he got married to a woman “from Kimberley” in May. He had a wedding band on.
Sowetan can reveal today that Mpho (who now uses Mankayi’s surname) is a 23-yearold musician who is actually from Postmansburg in Northern Cape. She is now based in Johannesburg and has matriculated at Parklands High School.
The stunner took part in the singing talent contest show Idols SA last year but didn’t go far. She recorded a CD titled Yes, Lord.
The couple met last year, just before Nathi released his debut album, Buyelekhaya.
Mpho is also a backing vocalist for Nathi, as well as Vusi Nova. She has backed gospel acts Prophet Neyi Zimu and Omega Khunou.
Nathi famously sang about his search for a woman in the hit song Nomvula from
Buyelekhaya that turned him into an overnight sensation. He has always refused to divulge details of his private life, including the details of his wedding, which has been kept hush-hush until now.
In his newest album, Umbulelo Wam, the obviously smitten Nathi sings a lot about love and commitment and waxes lyrical playing with Xhosa idioms, even borrowing words from Mbongeni Ngema’s Stimela sase Zola.
Attempts to speak to Mpho failed and Nathi and his representatives at Muthaland Records declined to comment.