Love Makes All The Difference

Depression, divorce and drama . . . former Malaika member Bongani Nchang has been through it all. But he’s in love again and making sweet music too.

- Mpho Tshikhudo

SOUTH Africa fell in love with him 14 years ago when he became part of the multi-award-winning super-group, Malaika.

As part of the Afro-pop trio that included Jabulani Ndaba and Tshedi Mholo, Bongani Nchang was flying high – jetting across the country from gig to gig and selling albums left, right and centre.

But his love life was a different story. In 2010 he divorced his wife of three years, Nthabi seng, and slipped into a deep depression, telling us how much he’d been hurt. “People always think those in the public eye live perfect lives, but we also go through pain, hurt and solitude.”

He jumped into another relationship too soon – and when that romance also failed, Bongani found himself in an even darker place, which affected his health and career. “I felt weak for days on end,” he said. “I couldn’t eat. I was depressed and my life was falling apart.”

But in 2013 everything changed. He bounced back with a solo album titled My Life and seemed to have truly triumphed over the dark times (Malaika’s Bongani flies solo, 4 July 2013). And it was all thanks to Danoline, the stunning woman he married four years ago.

Today Bongani (39) is in high spirits and finally ready to speak about the love of his life and share their fairytale.

Accompaying him is the stunning woman who has made him so happy – his 31-year-old wife and manager. And what a story they have to tell.

IT STARTED 12 years ago when Danoline was running a beauty shop in Sandton and Bongani was riding the success wave with Malaika.