Singer, model, and now podcaster Nandi Madida recently took to Instagram to celebrate her husband, Grammy award-winning artist and producer Zakes Bantwini, on his 44th birthday. The couple, who have been together for nearly a decade, are often praised for their strong relationship—and Nandi’s touching birthday message showed just how deep their love runs.
In her sweet Instagram post, Nandi shared beautiful photos of Zakes as well as pictures of the two of them together. Alongside the images, she wrote a heartfelt caption:
“Happy Birthday to the melody of my heart for 12 years! @Zakesbantwini You’re not just a musical genius to the world, but also the one who composes the soundtrack of my soul. Your music echoes the love and warmth you bring to my life every single day. I’m endlessly grateful for the harmony we share and the symphony of memories we create together. Today, I celebrate you—my muse, my partner, my everything. May your year ahead be filled with as much passion and joy as the music you share with the world. I love you, always.”
The couple began dating almost 10 years ago and got married in 2016. They now share two children together and have built a life full of love, creativity, and music.
Fellow celebrities also sent warm birthday wishes to Zakes. Singer Shekhinah commented, “Happy birthday Zakes!!!!” while comedian Mpho Popps added, “Happy Happy Malume Zakes Bantwini.”
Their journey as a married couple hasn’t just been built on love—it’s also been supported by careful planning and mutual respect. In a 2016 interview with DRUM magazine shortly after they got married, Nandi shared that the two had taken marriage counselling before tying the knot.
“Those sessions were very insightful into what married life is like, and also preparing to make that transition from being someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend to becoming someone’s husband or wife. I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of embarking on the journey of marriage,” Nandi explained.
She also opened up about how their families have embraced one another, saying, “My mom and dad are obsessed with my husband. They love him and see him as their son. They are happy for us as a couple. I am so grateful our families love each other. Thank God because I have heard stories of some families who don’t get along, and that makes stuff hard for the couple.”
As Zakes Bantwini celebrates his birthday, he’s surrounded by love from fans, friends, and most of all, his wife and family.
