As Cool As Criselda

Life is sweet for Criselda Kananda-Dudumashe – she has a new book,she’s still madly in love and has big plans for the New Year.

- Mpho Tshikhudo

SHE’S HANGING out with her “sister”, and together they worship by breaking bread. With heads bowed, they hold hands and give praise, oblivious to the goings-on in the restaurant. The gesture makes such an impression on the waiter that he walks up to the table and tells them how touched he is.

We are in Melrose Arch, an exclusive commercial centre in Johannesburg, with Metro FM’s Criselda Kananda-Dudumashe and her “sister”, Basetsana Kumalo.

SPORTING stylish shades, Criselda confirms her celebrity status the moment she steps into the swanky Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Both customers and staff can’t help but sneak a peek as she passes through the lobby.

But there are no airs and graces, no stuck-up manners. And we are struck by how beautiful she is in real life. Her face is fresh and lively, giving us the impression of a charming, loveable and totally approachable individual.

“It’s all God,” she responds when we ask how she manages to keep so young. “I’m on team Jesus and I drink Jesus juice.”

That immediately lightens the atmosphere and gets the team laughing. We want to know where she gets this juice.

“I get it from church, Rhema [Bible Church],” she replies. “But seriously, it’s all God. Also, I don’t sweat the small stuff. I’m not in the habit of focusing on people. People are not their behaviour. Sometimes people will do things, but they don’t mean to hurt you.”

It’s over a year since we last spoke to this multi-talented inspiration (Crazy in love, 7 January 2016), and it’s hot on the heels of the launch of her book. The memoir, You Are Never Alone: God’s Favourite Daughter, took 10 years to write and was published in December last year.

It’s early days, but we are keen to know how it’s going so far.