Love in the Time of Tradition: How a Viral Wedding Shook South Africa

By Buhle Malgas

It started with love: two men, one Xhosa and one Zulu, wrapped in beads, pride, and the joy of their union. Their wedding video, shared across social media, was more than a celebration; it was a statement: love doesn’t ask for permission. But not everyone saw it that way. Radio personality Ngizwe Mchunu posted a video reacting to the wedding, condemning the couple and using offensive language. He said the partner who was wearing a traditional Zulu attire was “a disgrace to Zulu culture,” questioning why gay men should wear traditional clothing. His words travelled fast, not because they were new, but because they echoed a sentiment that still lingers beneath the surface of our so-called rainbow nation.

Within hours, outrage erupted online. Activists, public figures, and ordinary South Africans flooded social media with anger and disappointment. Many said his comments were not only hateful but also dangerous, especially in a country that still struggles with violence against queer people. Others argued that Mchunu’s reaction revealed how deeply some still misunderstand both culture and manhood. When Mchunu later appeared at KwaMai-Mai, a well-known cultural market in Johannesburg, he reportedly tried to “defend” Zulu tradition. But his entry was denied. The management clearly stated that the market welcomes everyone, and they wouldn’t allow hatred to disturb that space. That decision became a powerful symbol of what inclusion should look like: a refusal to give hate a platform.

Traditional attire picture sourced from Instagram: @clarebaccesories

In the middle of all this noise, one truth stood out: the couple at the heart of the story didn’t say a word. They didn’t clap back. They didn’t need to. Their silence spoke louder than all the debates. Because love, especially love that defies old boundaries, doesn’t need to justify itself. Still, the conversation their union sparked is one that South Africa keeps circling back to: what does it mean to be both African and queer? Can tradition and queerness coexist? For many young people, the answer is already clear. Culture isn’t static; it grows, shifts, and breathes with every new generation. And love, in its truest form, doesn’t erase culture; it expands it. In truth, many South Africans live these blended identities every day, proud of their roots, proud of who they love. The internet just makes their reality visible to those still pretending it doesn’t exist.

Maybe that’s what makes this story hit so hard. The video wasn’t just about one man’s homophobia; it was about what happens when tradition becomes a weapon instead of a home. It’s about how quickly we forget that culture, at its heart, was always about community, not control. The wedding of those two men reminded the world of something simple yet powerful: that love belongs to everyone. And when someone says it doesn’t, what they’re really saying is that they’re afraid, afraid of change, afraid of what they don’t understand, afraid that maybe the future isn’t theirs alone. South Africa is still learning to walk its talk when it comes to acceptance but each time love like this makes it to our screens, whether through laughter, tears, or outrage, we move a little closer to the country we claim to be. In the end, love doesn’t need permission. It just needs space to exist and no amount of noise can silence that.

Image of hands sourced from Pinterest