Lately,singer Babes Wodumo’s love life has been getting as much attention as her popular hit, Wololo.
But despite revealing that she is engaged, the rising star – whose real name is Bongekile Simelane – will not reveal the identity of her fiancé. “Once you confirm who you’re dating, people will be after you,” she told City Press.
Simelane was, however, not shy to sing the praises of Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo, whom she credits with discovering her singing talent.
“He takes care of me. I wouldn’t trade him for anything,” she said.
Without confirming a relationship with Maphumulo, Simelane said: “He even helps me choose clothes when we go out and he always makes sure I arrive on time for my gigs.”
The 21-year-old, who is also known for her dance moves, recently told Drum magazine’s Unscripted With Mathawe Matsapola that she was engaged, revealing only that her fiancé was also in the music industry.
Maphumulo, a member of kwaito group Big Nuz, refused to confirm if they were in a relationship.
When asked how he discovered Simelane’s singing talent, he said: “When I met Babes five years ago, she was a model. I noticed that whenever she spoke, there would be a punch line. That is how I identified her singing talent.”
Simelane’s hit song, Wololo, featuring Maphumulo, is currently dominating the airwaves and she is dropping her debut album, Qom Queen Volume, next month.
“My fans have been waiting for my album. I know I won’t disappoint them,” she said, adding that people would realise that she was not just a dancer.
Simelane is the first artist to sign with Maphumulo’s West Ink Records.
Asked how she felt about being the star of the moment, Simelane said:
“Ngiyathuka nam’ [I get scared too]. But I am still the same Bongekile. Nothing has changed. I would never change.”
Simelane, whose father is a pastor, said she swore off alcohol “a long time ago, after I lost two friends because of a drug overdose”.
She said her father is her “number one fan”. “He is always there to support me. He even sings Wololo and this makes me push harder.”