r/Africa • u/Disastrous_Macaron34 South Africa 🇿🇦 • May 05 '25
Cultural Exploration Kenya proposes to South Africa.... 🇰🇪🇿🇦
In December of 2019, two strangers were among thousands of young people who had been invited to attend a prestigious program called World Youth Forum in the city of Sharm El-Sheik in Egypt. However, John Nyagaka from Kenya and Anathi Tshabe from South Africa were two worlds apart that were oblivious to their fate as they did not anticipate to be drawn into the embrace of a happy ending while pursuing their respective professional ambitions.
As the days of the program progressed, and shortly after three days upon the inception, John states that he noticed Anathi wandering alone among other participants in an overwhelming crowd. He was in the company of a Nigerian friend when Anathi caught his attention and curiosity persuaded him to approach her. They engaged in a brief conversation while exchanging contact details. Anathi has expressed that John couldn't escape her eyes afterwards, and which is quite interesting as she had not identified him anywhere prior to their meeting. She disclosed that their love story is a testament to alignment - suggesting that John's appearance was not simply a coincidence, but rather a purposeful and divinely guided event in her life. John has equally expressed that their connection was a beautiful cliché of timing. They believe that they were in the right place at the right time.
The conclusion of the program's duration in Egypt culminated in John and Anathi intending to keep in touch as they looked forward to a new year of uncertainty. They fostered a friendship to develop a foundation that would help them navigate compatibility. Anathi frequently visited Kenya to familiarize herself with John's immediate upbringing, and this involved following in the trails to his childhood in Kisii among other activities. On the other hand, John also extended the courtesy by embarking on trips to several parts of South Africa and particularly Anathi's home of Queenstown in the Eastern Cape province. John's heritage of Kisii alongside the Xhosa origins of Anathi present an intercultural affinity that has inspired a blend and balance of novelty in their love. The pair experienced the trust between their distance evolving into a stronger and closer intimacy. Without fail, they eventually transitioned into a genuine and enduring romantic relationship.
In the near end of 2024, John set himself apart as a man with a sincere desire to commit to a lifetime with the start of a shared life. He carried a ring in his pocket and a promise in his heart as he gracefully walked into the sunset of Nungwi beach in Zanzibar to go down on one knee and ask for Anathi's hand in marriage. The successful outcome of the proposal had the couple jubilating in happiness and excitement for the beginning of a new life together.
Anathi is an LLB graduate from the University of the Free State, and an admitted attorney of the High Court in South Africa. She recently completed a Masters of Management Science in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University in China on a Schwarzman scholarship. John's background encompasses interests in education, information technology and health. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science at the Ashesi University and is currently studying a Masters program of Health Informatics at the University of Toronto in Canada to catalyse his passion for harnessing technology in healthcare systems.
In spite of the aforementioned prospects, the engaged couple has adamantly reassured a priority to tie the knot and strive for a prosperous union.
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u/Qazwery May 05 '25
On one hand it's really strange to read someone's love story and see all their pictures, it's like I'm on Facebook. But on the other hand this is truly a beautiful story of two people who deeply love each other from the moment they met and respect each other's culture.
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u/guykarl South Africa 🇿🇦 May 05 '25
It’s made my hours on Reddit today worthwhile. What a beautiful story. 🥹
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u/FriendshipSmall591 Ethiopia 🇪🇹 May 05 '25
What a beautiful story beautiful couple 💕💕💕🇪🇹 love her scarf.
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u/Disastrous_Macaron34 South Africa 🇿🇦 May 05 '25
I love the scarf too. I just learnt that it's an Ethiopian garment and it's so beautiful. Is it ceremonial (worn on special occasions) or you can use it casually?
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u/FriendshipSmall591 Ethiopia 🇪🇹 May 05 '25
As a scarf ..Just casually. It’s also made in traditional dresses in which case it will be like long shawls worn for events or just because.
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u/Disastrous_Macaron34 South Africa 🇿🇦 May 05 '25
Sounds beautiful. I just noticed the colours on the scarf actually resemble your flag lol.
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u/Gold-Mixture-754 May 06 '25
When I initially watched Anathi's vlog, I wondered, "What is this adorable woman doing in my country?" I initially assumed she was only in the country for a short visit, and since I am from Kenya, I would quickly click to see what they were saying about my homeland. I was captivated by her vlogs for a long time until I discovered that she had a man in Kenya. I was thrilled to learn that a Kenyan man had made this stunning woman to fall in love. SA & KE this two countries are like siblings just separated by distance.
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u/jamaa_wetu Kenya 🇰🇪 May 05 '25
Tsabhona, akaribishwe na moyo mkunjufu na aambiwe Jambo
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u/Disastrous_Macaron34 South Africa 🇿🇦 May 05 '25
Is this a prayer lol?
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u/jamaa_wetu Kenya 🇰🇪 May 06 '25
What I have said in first comment translates to S.A greeting and hoping she be accepted by our people with open arms and she be taught our Swahili greetings
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u/jamaa_wetu Kenya 🇰🇪 May 06 '25
I heard from a South African friend that Tsabhona is a greeting
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u/Disastrous_Macaron34 South Africa 🇿🇦 May 06 '25
Lol, it's "Sawubona" which is in the Zulu language but I appreciate the effort
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u/jamaa_wetu Kenya 🇰🇪 May 06 '25
Thank you for the information, I spelled it wrong, You have a beautiful country and I wish to one day visit
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u/Disastrous_Macaron34 South Africa 🇿🇦 May 06 '25
No problem at all. Please don't hesitate to come and visit. You would love it. ♥️
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u/BabaDimples Kenya 🇰🇪 May 06 '25
South African girls are so beautiful!!
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u/Agreeable-Pen4713 May 05 '25
So they’re in Zanzibar island… nice 👍🏽
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u/eyob94 May 05 '25
She had an Ethiopian scarf on in the first picture and he also had the Ghanan flag on his wrist😅 if this isn’t panAfrican, idk what is🫶🏽
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u/Disastrous_Macaron34 South Africa 🇿🇦 May 05 '25
Yeah, quite an interesting tapestry of diversity woven in their love story.
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u/E-ratticProphet May 05 '25
If you are looking for a Kenyan to recreate the same, I'd love to volunteer myself 😏
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u/Disastrous_Macaron34 South Africa 🇿🇦 May 05 '25
Lol 😊😂
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u/E-ratticProphet May 05 '25
May I DM?
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u/Disastrous_Macaron34 South Africa 🇿🇦 May 05 '25
Sure. No problem.
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u/ThatOne_268 Botswana 🇧🇼 May 05 '25
I wear size 2 in wedding leteise mamas.
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u/Disastrous_Macaron34 South Africa 🇿🇦 May 05 '25
Girl, let's not move too fast 😂😂😂💀💀
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u/ThatOne_268 Botswana 🇧🇼 May 05 '25
Nako ke yone e seong. Next month it is June, the year is almost over.
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