Reality TV star and sangoma Mpho Wa Badimo has opened up about her emotional journey of grief after losing her mother, Elizabeth Nonjebo Mvundla, in August. Her mother passed away on August 6 and was laid to rest on August 16. In a heartfelt social media post, Mpho shared her experience of coping with the profound loss, symbolised by a deeply personal gesture: shaving her head.
In her emotional tribute, Mpho explained how grief has changed her life. “There is something about grief that changes you forever,” she wrote. “Not only do you grieve the loss of your loved one, but you also grieve who you were before your loss.” Her post reflects the transformative power of grief, which she described as both painful and necessary.
Mpho shared images of herself with her newly shaved head, revealing that it was a powerful act of healing and honour for her late mother. “Our hair is our crown, and removing it is not a sign of weakness but a sign of respect, honour, and recollecting our strength,” she wrote. Shaving her head, for Mpho, was a way of releasing the trauma and pain that she had carried, making space for healing in both her spirit and her physical being.
The former Big Brother Mzansi winner poured out her emotions in the post, describing how she had “cried tears that could fill an ocean” as she wept for her mother. But in her grief, she found strength. “Rain makes the flowers grow,” she said, expressing her belief in the importance of choosing to rise from pain and reclaim power, like a phoenix emerging from the ashes.
Mpho’s tribute to her mother also carried a message of love and resilience. She acknowledged the role grief has played in her journey, writing, “Dear Grief, I thank you. You took away my life but you also gave birth to my soul.”
As she continues to navigate this new chapter of her life, Mpho Wa Badimo’s reflections on love, loss, and healing serve as a reminder of the power in allowing oneself to feel, release, and ultimately, rise. Thokoza Ma, she concluded, “I will always love you.”
