Langa Mabena
Musawenkosi Moyo
IN the world of theatre and dance, two people stand out not only for their vibrant performances on stage but also for their unique relationship that stems from their love for each other and their passion for the arts.
Lynda Sibanda also known as “Sonkomose” – a member of Sunduza Music and Dance Theatre group and Nomore “Maluka” Sibanda – a member of Indosakusa, the Morning Star, have found a way to unite their artistic pursuits with their deep love for each other, creating a partnership, which strives on creativity and understanding.
The couple have been married for six years and are blessed with two children. Maluka said that he and his wife had crossed paths on multiple occasions in different events, but it was a work of fate in the form of a lost cell phone that brought them together.
“We used to see each other at events on several occasions but never talked to each other. It was in 2017, at a church event in Magwegwe suburb, Bulawayo, where both our groups were invited to perform that I lost my phone and asked her to help me find it by sending a message to it and after that, we parted ways.
“A few days later I was called into the police station as they found my lost phone and when I turned it on, I received the message that I had sent using her phone. I decided to send her a message and we just started talking,” he said.
Maluka said they started to be on talking terms with Sonkomose who was already in a relationship with someone else. He insisted that because of her being in an affair, they decided to be friends.
“I liked her and when I told her my intentions, she made it clear that she was in a relationship with another guy, but things were not going well. I waited until they broke up and made my move and the rest is history,” Maluka said.
He said their involvement in the arts is an advantage to them because it makes it easier to understand the demands and sacrifices needed to succeed in the industry.
“Because we are both in the industry, we understand the demands required by the industry, like in terms of time and travel. As a performer, I sometimes come home late or at times have to travel for a whole month without coming home. Because we are both in the industry, we completely understand when that happens,” he said.
Sonkomose, who is a poet in her own right, said the secret to keeping their marriage intact is respect and patience.
“As a couple, our marriage is not perfect, we have arguments like in any other normal marriage, but it is how we solve these arguments that keep us together. When we have an argument over something we both always try to remain calm and respect the other’s views,” she said.
She stated that the arts industry is a difficult industry and economically it gets challenging but because they are both in the industry, they are able to face those challenges with understanding.
When it comes to marriage, she urges people to first be completely sure of their decision to marry before getting into it because getting married is easy but maintaining the marriage is not a walk in the park.
“Marriage is not an easy journey, it is for the people who are at a stage where they know what they want and are ready to adjust to married life and its demands. You must be ready to make certain compromises to make the relationship work.
“Before getting married, we consulted our church pastor and he helped us understand that the person that you date may be slightly different to the person that you end up marrying. When you start living together, that’s when you truly get to know and understand who that person is,” said Sonkomose.
The couple have collaborated on a song called Uyingqongqo. They said that they are working on another project together, which fans can expect by the end of the year.
Online Reporter