On Sunday, February 21, Miss Rwanda 2012 Aurore Mutesi Kayibanda confirmed to US-based showbiz journalist Ally Soudy that she is no longer married to renowned photographer Egide Mbabazi. The couple’s divorce marked the end of three years since Mbabazi vowed to spend the rest of his life with Mutesi in a marriage that took place in the United States back in March 2018. The New Times looks at other top Rwandan celebrity couples that ended in divorce. Safi Madiba and Judith Niyonizera One of the stories that made headlines in 2017 is Safi Madiba’s wedding with Canada-based Judith Niyonizera. In what transpired to be one of the most high profile celebrity weddings of the year after the couple tied the knot in October 2017, just weeks after Safi announced his departure from Urban Boys music band. However, their marriage was followed by a series of a marriage-threatening scandal which surfaced after a one Rick Hilton, a Canadian national, claimed to have been the rightful lover of Niyonizera, who has been living in Canada. Before Safi and Niyonizera got hitched, Niyonizera was apparently married to a Canadian national but the two went separate ways. However, Rick Hilton confessed to the media that he and Niyonizera had been in a relationship for the previous two years before she married Safi, and that she took a lot of money from him and other Canadian men. The new couple did their best to overcome the rumors and write their new chapter together as a happy family. However, their relationship didn’t last long. When the singer travelled to visit Niyonizera in Canada early last year, reports suggested that he couldn’t fly back to Kigali because his wife confiscated his passport. The singer had no choice but to prolong his stay during which he and his wife were reportedly involved in several misunderstandings till he decided to leave Niyonizera’s house to stay with a neighboring family. Their journey as husband and wife came to an end in August last year when Safi announced that he parted ways with Niyonizera. DJ Pius and MC Ange They were the showbiz sweethearts’ band but when the news circulated that showbiz’s tallest couple had parted ways, most fans were left reeling in shock. Singer DJ Pius and his wife who juggles between being a radio presenter and MC Ange Umulisa who got married in 2014 parted ways under unclear circumstances but continue to co-parent their son. DJ Pius has on several occasions given interviews but declined to comment about the issue saying that he never likes to comment about his family affairs because they are family matters. Jay Polly and Sharifa Mbabazi Jay Polly has been in a relationship with Sharifa Mbabazi since 2015. However, their love had a bad ending following a series of conflicts which got the rapper slapped with a five-month sentence behind bars back in August 2018 after the Primary Court of Gasabo found him guilty of assaulting his wife. The rapper, real name Joshua Tuyishime, was detained for beating up his wife and breaking three of her teeth in a violent fight that ensued at the couple’s home in Remera. After Jay Polly finished his sentence, the couple was committed to reunite and keep raising their son together. However, Sharifa surprisingly announced that she started a new love life with a US-based fiance who engaged her in September last year. Just a few days later, the rapper also unveiled his new girlfriend, a one Kessy Kayonga, who is reportedly based in Kenya, putting an end to the love journey with Shariffa. Sharifa featured in various music videos as a video vixen including Niwowe video by singer Frankie Joe while Jay Polly boosts of songs like Ni nde, Ibyiza and many others including Too much featuring various musicians like Urban Boyz, Bruce Melody and Uncle Austin. Meddy Saleh and Shaddyboo Shaddy Boo is one of Rwanda’s top socialites and an easy target for gossip. The socialite has two kids with her ex-partner Meddy Saleh, who is arguably one of the best music producers in town. But like many celebrity relationships, theirs too ended in 2016 for the reason neither of them reveals. However, the two continued to raise their daughters even when separated. Each of them has decided to live their own life but with respect to remain exemplary to their daughters. Since their separation, the ‘queen of social media’ was rumored to be in love affairs with a number of celebrities including Tanzanian musicians Diamond Platnumz and rapper AY as well as US-based Rwandan upcoming singer Shaffy. Meddy Saleh, meanwhile, is just focused on raising his daughters and is said to be in no mood for any relationship just yet. Anita Pendo and Ndanda In 2016, renowned MC and radio presenter Anita Pendo found new love in footballer Alphonse Ndanda Nzeyimana after parting ways with Producer David. The couple had since been cohabitating and welcomed their first born in August 2017. The couple however, found themselves at the center of negative criticism when it emerged that they had had their second child in October 2018, just a few days after the first was one year old. It was during the same year that Ndanda, a former goalkeeper for clubs like Rayon Sports and AS Kigali, announced that he parted with Pendo. Since then, the RBA’s radio presenter appears to have been single. Young Grace and Hubert Pique Female rapper Young Grace will remember 2018 as the year of romance during which she received an engagement ring from her ex Hubert Rwabuhihi. The footballer, who formerly played for second division club Heroes FC, proposed to Young Grace during her 25th birthday celebrations in September 2018. However, their love didn’t last long. Pique announced that it was over between him and Young Grace just when they were expecting their first born. Her break up with the father of her child also forced the rapper to suspend her music projects and focus on raising her child alone as a single mother, a new life experience that inspired her ‘Single Mother Vibes’ show on YouTube.
