EMBRACING each other's heritage through food and culture, is what has kept the bond strong between Pietermaritzburg couple Cliffy “Zuluboy” Govender, 33, and his wife Diann Nkanyezi Ngubane Govender, 28.
Govender said they faced various challenges while navigating through their inter-racial relationship.
But through their love, respect and understanding of each other’s culture, they got through their hurdles.
He became an internet sensation when he launched his TikTok account - Cliffy “Zuluboy” Govender - where he speaks fluent isiZulu, surprising many of his followers who did not know he was multilingual.
His following on TikTok exceeds 111 000 followers and he said he felt like a celebrity because when “I leave home everyone knows me”.
Govender met Diann in church in 2017 and they got to know each other on social media. They married in 2019 and share two children, Kylie, 7, and Riann, 6.
“At the wedding, she invited all the Indian guests and I the African,” said Govender.
Diann grew up in the predominantly Indian suburb of Northdale, while Cliffy was taken care of by his isiZulu speaking nanny, Mandlovu, from the age of five while his mother went to work.
Cliffy said while Diann had a love for Indian heritage, culture and cuisine, he shared an equitable love for the Zulu culture, cuisine and language.
“I learnt isiZulu from Mandlovu. She was my teacher up until I was eight years old. She left work because my mother could no longer afford her services. My isiZulu improved when I started playing soccer and developed further in my teenage years. When I got a job as a paramedic for the KZN Department of Health, I worked in a rural area, where people only spoke isiZulu.
“I was the only Indian person servicing three towns in the area. This was when I equipped myself to read and write isiZulu. I used the local isiZulu papers to enhance my knowledge of the language. Friends and colleagues also taught me,” he said.
Govender said he received hate from both the Indian and Black community after he released his videos on social media.
“They accused me of being confused about my identity. I used to respond to the comments. But, I got into trouble at work when I responded while in my uniform. A video I had made in response to the hate and racist comments, received over a million views. Now I just block people who bring negativity and hate. I do not comment,” he said.
He said while there were haters, there were many people who appreciated his talent.
“I find it inspiring when Black people see me, a person of another race speaking their language. That gives me ‘isphindi’ which means courage. It is not easy for an Indian to be on a worldwide platform, speaking another language, especially if you are self-taught,” he added.
Diann said she had to adjust to people staring at her in public when she walked with her husband.
“People are not very welcoming in some communities and are still living in the times when inter-racial relationships were uncommon. We faced many challenges as a mixed race couple and initially it was hard for people to accept. We had to make people understand that we were happy. People had thought I had bewitched Cliffy. My family accepted him and his family loved me as their own daughter. The negative comments and hate came from extended family and friends,” Diann said.
Diann spent her life in Dunveria, a predominantly Indian community, and grew up with a love for Indian culture and cuisine.
“My mom was a domestic helper for an Indian family before she qualified as a teacher. She learnt how to cook curries and we loved the Hindu culture and their values.
“She taught me how to cook curries and make roti. I love the food. I can eat breyani all day, any day. A second favourite is roti with sugar beans or herbs,” she said.
Diann enjoys cooking for her family and said she encouraged her children to embrace the culture of Indian people having close-knit families.
“I had to explain to them why they both had different hair, and why their dad and I were different. They had many questions. One of them has hair like mine, and the other has hair like their dad. I taught them to embrace both,” she said.
Diann is always ready to cook up Govender’s favourite traditional meals, which included steam bread and samp with tripe.
“On cold days that is our comfort food. The way we make samp is different compared to how Indians make them. He loves the Zulu way, and I love the Indian way,” she said.
“The culture is different between Indians and Blacks, although our core values are the same. I do not know my cousins and extended family much, as the culture is that when you get married, you leave and start your own family, but with Indians, everyone often gets together and they are one big family.
“I love the Indian family culture and we embrace it in our home,” she said.
Govender said his daughters were learning isiZulu, so like him they could communicate with their maternal grandparents.
He also intends to start online classes, to teach people how to speak isiZulu.
“No matter what race you are, you should be proud of South Africa. People from KwaZulu Natal especially, should learn the language as it is a beautiful and a great tool to help build social cohesion.”