Celebrity couples are more often than not, under heavy scrutiny by fans and media alike. The fact that they are in the spotlight makes them more susceptible to criticism and even splits and breakups because their lives are out there in the spotlight.
Every marital relationship, has ups and downs, but there is always a high possibility of news about a pending divorce or scandals among celebrity marriages. Many celebrity couples who are still together must walk the tightrope between love, fame, money, obsessed fanbases, and infinite temptations. With hundreds of people idolizing them, it takes all of their self-control to keep a relationship going for years.
Despite the stories of celebrity couples getting a divorce and splitting every now and then, there are still many other celebrity couples that are still standing strong in their relationships and marriages for years. Here are 10 of such celebrity couples.
Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva
Olu Jacobs is a well-known Nigerian veteran actor. His birth name is Oludotun Jacobs, and he was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Joke Silva, his wife, is a veteran Nigerian actress, director, and businesswoman, just like him. She graduated from the University of Lagos and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, where she began her cinematic career in the early 1990s. This adorable African celebrity couple has won multiple acting honors and continues to serve as role models for younger celebrities since their relationship and marriage have been free of scandal and suspicions of adultery.
Olu Jacobs met Joke Silva when the National Theatre invited him to Nigeria to play the lead in Wole Soyinka’s “The Trials of Brother Jero,” and it was love at first sight, according to their love story.
He even disclosed that he told her on the first day they met that he planned to marry her, which he eventually did when they married in 1989. They run the Lufodo Group, a media conglomerate that includes film production, distribution, and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.
Sulley Muntari and Menaye Donkor
Suleyman Ali “Sulley” Muntari is a former Ghanaian professional footballer who played in the central midfield position. He is married to Menaye, a former beauty queen, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. The pair have been married for nearly a decade, exchanging vows in a colorful ceremony in 2010, and they have two children, Jamal Krasie Muntari and Jamila Bema Muntari.
According to the beauty queen, her relationship with her husband began as best friends, and after four years, they began talking about marriage again, and she thought she was ready at that moment. It’s also worth noting that the celebrity couple were born and reared with opposing religious beliefs – Muntari is Muslim, while Menaye is Christian – yet they have managed to make their relationship work despite their religious differences.
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington
African-American celebrity couple, 68-year-old Pauletta Pearson and 64-year-old Denzel Washington, first met in 1977, on the set of the movie Wilma, and started dating shortly afterwards. Denzel described their first date in a Valentine’s Day (!) interview with Jimmy Kimmel and also recalled their very first meeting on Live with Kelly and Ryan. “I met her then, but I didn’t meet her then,” he explained of their time on the set. “I saw her then.”
About a year later, Denzel went on to explain, he was at a party where Pauletta also happened to be. “I had talked at that party about going to see a play. I went to see the play, and at intermission the lights came up and she was sitting [there]. She said she just happened to go see the play… I’m getting in trouble as I speak!”
After 3 marriage proposals, Denzel and paulletta, one of the most recognized black celebrity couples got married in 1983. Together, they have four children, John David, Katia, Malcolm, and Olivia.
Pauletta has continued to build her acting career while Denzel has since become an A-list celebrity. She has appeared in films like the 1993 Philadelphia, which received an Oscar nomination, and Spike Lee’s 2017 TV series She’s Gotta Have It.
The celebrity couple have four children, the oldest of whom is John David, 34, an actor who most recently participated in Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated BlacKkKlansman. While twins Olivia and Malcolm, all 28, are starting their own Hollywood careers after studying acting and filmmaking, their older daughter Katia, 30, is also an actor.
Desmond Tutu officiated at Pauletta and Denzel’s vow renewal ceremony in South Africa in 1995.
Omotola Jalade and Captain Mathew Ekeinde
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is the epitome of a Nollywood diva, and she has been married to Captain Matthew Ekeinde for more than 20 years. Despite the fact that their family is constantly in the spotlight, the couple has a happy marriage. Princess, M.J., Meraiah, and Michael are their four children.
It may also interest you to know that, despite having demanding occupations, this couple has managed to find time in their busy schedules to spend quality time together and enjoy the company of their children. The celebrity couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in March 2021, and the stunning actress took to social media to lavish praise on her spouse.
Wahu and Nameless
Kenyan power couple, artist Nameless and his wife Wahu, are on the list of the hottest African celebrity couples because they know how to consistently dish out couple goals. Their love has lasted the test of time for almost 23 years, and they have been married for 16 of those years. It may also be of interest to you that their mutual passion in music brought them together at a concert in 1997, and as fate would have it, they later attended the University of Nairobi together.
Nameless, whose true name is David Mathenge, and Wahu Kagwi are the delighted parents of two children, Tumiso and Nyakio Mathenge. Furthermore, the celebrity couple secured an agreement with Showax to premiere their reality program in May 2021 to give fans a better look at their joyful family life, love journey, and career milestones.
LeBron James and Savannah James
Savannah James and LeBron James have been dating since their high school years in Akron, Ohio. They got married in 2013 and Lebron “Bronny,” Bryce, and Zhuri are their three children.
The two have been in a long-term relationship since the early 2000s are one of the black celebrity couples who met in high school.
LeBron had been chosen to join the basketball team at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, where he was a 17-year-old student. Savannah, 16, went to the rival high school even though she was born and raised in the same Ohio city as LeBron. When a mutual acquaintance informed Savannah that LeBron had requested her phone number, the teenagers came into contact.
“I’m like, ‘Um, nope. I’ll take his number,” she told Cleveland Magazine in 2018. “One day I’m sitting around — I was probably bored or something — and I’m like, ‘Oh, I forgot! I have this number for this guy that I can call. He seemed interested, so let’s see.”
Gugu Khati and DJ Tira
DJ Tira and his wife, Gugu Khathi, are one of South Africa’s most popular celebrity couples.
They’ve been beside each other for nearly two decades, proving that famous marriages can last. However, the celebrity couple has experienced their fair share of ups and downs in life, both individually and collectively, but they have never let any of their challenges dim their brightness and love for each other. It’s also worth noting that DJ Tira and Gugu met before he became famous, and his marriage to her is his second marriage after divorcing his first.
Furthermore, the music magnate from Durban and his sweetheart are not only married but also successful in their separate careers. DJ Tira is an award-winning musician recognized for his works and on-stage appearances, whilst Gugu is a hardworking woman with an amazing track record. However, the father of three credits his career success and exceptional height in life to his wife, whom he describes as a strong woman.
John Dumelo and Gifty Mawunya Nkornu
John Dumelo is a megastar in Ghana’s film industry and Nollywood who has recently expressed interest in pursuing a political career. John Dumelo’s love life with Gifty Mawunya is just as spectacular as his career.
According to sources, the couple had known each other for a long time before walking down the aisle in 2018.
Gifty even took to social media to joke about playing hard to get back in 2012 when she recounted an incident in which John Dumelo had to drive all the way from the United States to see her in Canada.
However, the celebrity couple seem to be doing just fine as a couple, and in the same year they married, their son arrived.
Bebe Cool and Zuena Kirem
Bebe Cool is a pioneer of modern contemporary Ugandan music and a significant figure in the East African reggae game, having written over 200 songs.
He has garnered various accolades, as well as other local and international achievements. His amazing resume also includes the fact that he is married and has a very happy family life with Zuena Kirema, a model, TV presenter, and former Miss Uganda contender. His wife also happens to be the CEO of Zuena Cakes & Decor.
The celebrity couple have been together for 19 years and currently have 5 children together. Bebe and Zuena have also overcome a lot of obstacles and challenges to maintain a blissful marriage. At some point, it actually seemed they were going to part ways as they separated for a while but they eventually bounced back.
Basetsana and Romeo Kumalo
Basetsana and Romeo Kumalo are one of the well known celebrity couples in South Africa. More so, beyond being picture-perfect together, the Kumalos has achieved a very astounding degree of accomplishment over the years and for that, they are sometimes referred to as a ‘Power Couple.
Basetsana rose to prominence as one of South Africa’s divas after winning Miss South Africa in 1994 and going on to create a media career as a Top Billing host in the 1990s. She eventually made her way into business, accomplishing various goals in the years that followed. Meanwhile, Romeo Kumalo, the founder of an investing firm, is not left out.
Their marriage, however, has not been without its share of controversy, as the couple was recently accused of being engaged in a gay sex tape. The pair adamantly denied the allegations, calling them unfounded because there was no evidence to back them up; they even sued the writer who started the rumor.
