As their Netflix wedding special, “Stars & Vows: Anele & Buzza”, premieres on November 13, Anele Mdoda and her husband, Prince Bonelela “Buzza James” Mgudlwa, are opening up about married life, including one tradition they are not interested in entertaining.
The newlyweds have challenged the expectations often placed on traditional brides, or oomakoti, in some African households, particularly the notion that a woman should become responsible for serving her husband’s extended family.
For Buzza, marriage should never mean his wife is treated like hired help.
“You’ve come into the family and the family says, ‘Ungumntana walapha’ (you are a child of this home). You shouldn’t be treated like hired help,” he said.
In an exclusive conversation with IOL ahead of the wedding special’s premiere, the couple shared how Buzza’s family has welcomed Anele, their approach to marriage and how they are navigating their first festive season as husband and wife.
The couple was joined by their bridesmaids and groomsmen for an intimate press junket, where they reflected on their filming journey.
Anele backed her husband’s sentiments, sharing examples of how his family has made an effort to ensure she feels welcomed and appreciated rather than burdened by traditional expectations.
She recalled how Buzza’s sister arranged for caterers during family gatherings so that Anele would not be left spending the day in the kitchen.
Other relatives have also questioned why she was awake early preparing food, while Buzza’s mother has shown that there is no rush to start the day, enjoying a leisurely three-hour morning routine before emerging 0at around 10am.
Even when the family goes on holiday, the men take responsibility for bathing the children and getting them ready, giving the women an opportunity to rest. “Buzza’s family doesn’t play that game,” Anele smiled.
“A woman in that family is valued.”
“Valued, treasured,” Buzza added.
The conversation offered an interesting perspective on the expectations placed on newly married women in some traditional households, with Buzza making it clear that he does not believe becoming a wife should mean sacrificing one’s dignity or being reduced to domestic responsibilities.
Beyond the conversation about cultural expectations, the couple also spoke about the security and companionship that marriage has brought to their relationship.
For Anele, one of the biggest differences is knowing that she has someone firmly in her corner.
“You always have somebody in your corner. Buzza’s on my side, I never have to question it,” she said.
“When your husband is your husband and he’s raised right, that man is your teammate forever. Buzza will never speak out against me ever.”
Buzza reflected on marriage from the perspective of African tradition, explaining how formalising their relationship also opened the door to a deeper connection with Anele’s family, particularly her father.
“Coming from very traditional homes, into ye boyfriend and girlfriend isn’t really entertained. In African culture, until you bring those cows home, you don’t have room to have the kind of engagements I have with a father-in-law and her family, who have taken me in and loved me truly like a son,” he shared.
He added with a laugh: “I speak more to my father-in-law than I do to my dad.”
Despite the opulence of their televised wedding, Anele insists that their everyday reality away from the cameras is far less glamorous than some might imagine. The 947 presenter says there is a misconception that being in the public eye means every aspect of life has to be extravagant.
“We are actually very boring. I promise you, at the heart of it all, we’re just day-to-day people,” Anele shared.
“I think there’s this notion that if you’re in the public eye, everything has to be larger than life, opulent, loud and vibrant.
“Literally, I can be found in the kitchen most of the time, the kids can be found in the lounge or in their study centre reading, and Buzza can be in his office drafting.”
For Buzza, keeping their private world grounded is also about protecting their relationship from the pressures that come with being in the public eye.
“Priority number one is making sure that her heart is good, safe, covered, and protected,” he explained.
“Everything that happens outside of the walls of our home, we don’t have 100% control over.
“But what happens at home and how we reassure each other, encourage one another, and pray for one another is the first-level base of protecting us from that world.”
When they do step outside their everyday routine, one of their shared passions is travelling with their children and exposing them to different experiences.
“We want to show the kids the world, because we just want to show them that this is not it,” Anele said. “Yes, this is beautiful, but there’s more to this.”
The couple’s easy banter was also evident throughout the conversation, including playful disagreements about their wedding catering.
Anele revealed that she had campaigned for Fanta Orange and a noodle bar, while Buzza believed their children had more “sophisticated palates” and preferred Sprite.
They also joked about who takes longer to get ready when leaving the house.
With the festive season approaching, the couple are looking forward to establishing their own holiday traditions.
Buzza revealed that his father had encouraged them to spend their first Christmas as a married couple building their own home dynamic rather than immediately taking on extended family commitments. However, their December plans will be shaped partly by Anele’s work commitments, as she is scheduled to work on Lotto broadcasts throughout the month.
The couple will therefore remain based in Johannesburg for Christmas, with a brief trip to the Eastern Cape on December 18 for an umgidi celebration – IOL.
