‘MY HAPPINESS COMES FIRST'

Heeding her calling, surviving abuse, then finding love in the arms of a woman, Letoya Makhene is living life her way

- QHAMA DAYILE

SHE wasn’t looking for love. Since splitting from her previous partner, she poured all her energy into music, deepening her spirituality and being a good mother to her four kids.

Meeting someone special was the last thing on Letoya Makhene’s mind – so she was just as surprised as the rest of Mzansi when she did just that at a birthday party she attended with her father.

“I truly never saw this coming,” she tells DRUM, giggling like a schoolgirl.

In an exclusive interview, Letoya (35) is letting us in on her romance with Lebo Keswa (44). Her love life has been the talk of the town since she confirmed on social media that she’s found love again in the arms a woman.

Although Letoya’s social-media feeds have been mostly flooded with messages of support, she’s also been told same-sex relationships are wrong and “unAfrican”.

But she refuses to miss out on love because of people’s prejudices. “I am a child of the spirit, which means I do what makes me happy,” she tells us.

“I have mastered shutting out the world. As long as I am centred with God, nothing else matters. I feel sorry for judgemental people who throw Bible verses my way.”

Having grown up in the public eye, she’s had to develop a thick skin. Even so, coming out wasn’t easy.

“I thought about whether it would damage my reputation. But I was a sangoma and went to initiation school at the age of 18, before it became popular among celebrities.

“I went through that path alone, and I’m still standing.

If that couldn’t damage my reputation, nothing will,” she says.