Babes Wodumo, the Queen of Gqom, may not have taken home any awards at the South African Music Awards (SAMAs) last night, but she undeniably stole the show.
Her appearance on the red carpet, far from the typical glamorous gowns, was a powerful and deeply moving tribute to her late husband, Mandla "Mampintsha" Maphumulo. Instead of a traditional red carpet dress, Babes chose a dramatic white wedding gown complete with a veil – a poignant symbol of a dream wedding that was tragically cut short by Mampintsha's untimely death.
The couple, who had been together for over a decade, had a joyous traditional wedding in KwaZulu-Natal in April 2021. However, their plans for a formal white wedding ceremony never materialised.
The memory of their 2020 engagement, captured in a heartwarming video of Mampintsha's proposal, remains a bittersweet reminder of their love story. Mampintsha's passing in December 2022, when Babes was just 28 years old, left a void in her life and shattered their shared dreams. The couple also have a young son together.
Speaking to Zimoja, Babes Wodumo shared her heartfelt emotions about her red carpet choice and the bittersweet memories it evoked.
"I know most people are wondering why a wedding gown on the red carpet? Yazi namhlanje (Today) I wish uMampintsha was here so he could walk the red carpet with me," she said.
The night, she explained, felt like a realisation of her dream wedding. "You know what, yesterday felt like our white wedding," she enthused.
Babes’s appearance quickly propelled her to the top of the trending lists on social media. Her sister and manager, Nondumiso Simelane, expressed her pride in Babes's performance and the powerful message conveyed by the wedding dress.
"We were trending because of her performance and the wedding gown, but it feels good to know we gave her the wedding moment she always wanted," Simelane concluded.
The gesture was a testament to the enduring love between Babes and Mampintsha, and a touching way to honour his memory. It also highlighted the profound impact of loss and the enduring power of love and remembrance.
The choice of a wedding dress on the SAMAs red carpet was more than just a fashion statement; it was a powerful expression of grief and a testament to the enduring love Babes shared with her late husband. The image of Babes in her white wedding gown will undoubtedly remain a lasting symbol of love, loss, and the enduring power of remembrance.
