After three years of courtship, the popular and celebrated Limpopo Rhumba musician, Ntakadzeni Manyage, better known as Alingo and the Babes in music circles, took his “friendship” with Ms Hulisani Sikhipha to another level when they tied the knot.
The traditional ceremony took place at the Sikhipha household in Hamuraga on 23 December and was attended by the who’s who in the entertainment industry, including guests such as the chairperson of the Vhembe Music Forum, Dr Roxley Masevhe.
The lovebirds, who are the envy of all by always cuddling and holding each other wherever they go, are both hairdressers by profession and work at salons next to each other in Thohoyandou. Alingo, who dresses like an old man during live performances, said the time was ripe to take their relationship to another level.
“I met Hulisani in 2021, and it was love at first sight for me. For a whole year, I would just look at her, but could not tell her my feelings. I would just greet her, but did not have the courage to tell her that I love her. It was only in 2022 that I broke the ice, and she was positive. We have been together and very happy since, and wherever we went, people would compliment us and encourage us to get married,” he said.
Alingo explained that, after discussing the matter, they had decided the time was ripe to get married publicly. “It took us a whole four months to prepare for the occasion. We are just happy and thank God that everything went well and as planned. We both know each other’s highs and lows,” Alingo said.
Ms Hulisani Sikhipha said she was lucky to have found a man such as Alingo, and that getting married to him was a blessing. “We have been together for a long time,” she said.
Alingo’s music journey started in 1999 as a gospel musician with the gospel sensation Asnath Mulaudzi. He released one gospel album titled “Ntate Ruma Nna”. He branched into Rhumba music in 2016 and has gone on to release four Rhumba albums to date.