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Power Couples
T
he African entertainment industry like its counterparts around the world is blessed with its own version of
entertainment power couples. Some of these public figures have weathered a lot of storms to stay married.
Scandals, speculative rumors and alarming statistics of failed celebrity marriages and the incessant break ups
of their liaisons are constant reminders of the staying power of these profiled icons. A tree, according to the
time tested African adage does not make a forest, and bearing in mind the phrase ‘it takes two to tango,’ we chronicle in
this first installment, the lives of some of these headliners who have been able to keep the fires of their respective conjugal
bliss burning despite the many travails and bad press they usually have to contend with.
Words By Myke Pam
children to show for their undying love, the 71 year old Olu, an alumni of the Royal
Academy of Dramatic Arts London and winner of the Best Actor In a Leading Role of
the African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA 2007 and Joke, winner of the AMAA 2006
Best Actress In a Leading Role award and an alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of
Dramatic Arts London who just clocked 52 are definitely riding the matrimonial waves.
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ALEXANDROS and LIZZ KONSTANTARAS (Kenya)
The love story of one of Kenya’s most prominent entertainment power couples is the stuff
fairy tales are made of. The union of vivacious screen goddess Lizz Njagah and her producer/
actor husband Alexandros Konstantaras is worth chronicling. This eastern African version of
Nigeria’s own Joke and Olu Jacobs have proven beyond all reasonable doubt that mind and
matter do actually cohabit. Alexandros who proposed to the beautiful thespian in a classic
romance novel style on the set of The Return of Lazarus is sure having a blissful marriage
if feelers getting to your darling HF magazine are anything to go by. The match which was
truly made behind the screen for the screens is still waxing stronger despite misgivings from
Kenyan industry watchers who did not give them a chance to succeed, citing other failed
celebrity marriages.
CONNIE and SHONA FERGUSON (South Africa)
South Africa’s own Connie and Shona Ferguson who star across each other in
the popular South African sitcom, The Wild have been married for more than
a decade now and they are not ready to let up yet. A beautiful couple, who
seemed tailor made for each other, the Fergusons are a wonderful sight to
behold anytime, anywhere. Be it on the screen or off it, they just shine for each
other. Quoted by some media sources some time ago to have vowed to stick
together, forever, these acting duo are formidable style icons and inspiration to
plenty of celebrities and fans alike in SA and beyond.
BEBE COOL and ZUENA KIREMA (Uganda)
TUNDE and WUNMI OBE (Nigeria)
OLU and JOKE JACOBS (Nigeria)
Two young hearts bound together by cupid’s arrow in 1988 through the
instrumentality of music. This highly creative and talented musical duo known today
as TWO (Tunde Wunmi Obe), practically became one 25 years ago when they met
at a musical rehearsal session in Lagos. Tunde, son of a former Nigerian ambassador
and Wunmi, daughter of the venerable late publisher of the Punch Newspapers,
Chief Olu Aboderin had no inclination as at the time that they would eventually end
up as a reference point for other celebrity couples and would-be couples.
This couple remains one of the strongest motivating factors for some
celebrities who plan to tie the nuptial knots with fellow celebrities. In fact,
their story is an inspiring one. Both are thespians of repute who kicked
off their respective careers in the United kingdom before relocating back
home with their wealth of experience to add panache to the then emerging
film industry in Nigeria. The Jacobs who got married in 1987 are a lovely
couple to behold. Their undying affection for each other can be glimpsed
anytime they are together, both in public and private gV