Media personality Ayanda Borotho penned an ode to her ancestry, which includes her grandparents, and the areas in KwaZulu-Natal where both sides of her family are from, Eshowe and Umgababa.
Ayanda, who’s also an author, wrote the surnames that form part of her lineage, including Ntuli, her maternal grandmother’s surname, and Zungu, her maternal grandfather’s surname, while her mother married into the Ngubane family in Umgababa.
AYANDA BOROTHO’S ODE TO HER ANCESTRY
Known for being passionate about history and culture, the actress took her fans into the tapestry of her rich heritage.
While some admired her beauty, it was her sincere tribute that prevailed, which she beautifully wrote in isiZulu.
“Born of a girl named Lungile from rural Mpaphala in Eshowe, who is the daughter of (Bafana) Zungu and (Dinah) MaNtuli,”she wrote.
“She (Ayanda’s mother) got married to Njabulo Ngubane from Umgababa, who’s passed on but still watches over me,” she continued.
“United in righteousness and happiness, they named me Ayanda as I’ve expanded the family, alongside my twin brother Sandile,” she explained.
“Your story matters, it is rooted in all you are,” she concluded.
AYANDA SPEAKS ABOUT HER UPBRINGING
Ayanda, who lost her twin brother in 2024, openly discussed her upbringing with radio personality and podcaster David Mashabela on his platform.
She said her parents’ marriage wasn’t traditional and that “they did their own thing”.
Ayanda appreciated her mother’s strength and her father’s contribution during his period of unemployment.
“Mom used to do the laundry on Fridays, soak it so that it’s easier to wash in the morning,” she continued.
“Sometimes mom would come back from work, and she’s tired, she would soak the laundry and go to bed. And then ubaba (dad) would wash the laundry for her in the middle of the night,” said Ayanda, chuckling.
“It says a lot about him as a man. It tells me that he was a truthful man,” she concluded.
AYANDA SHARES SPECIAL GRANDPARENTS’ DYNAMICS
Ayanda further spoke about her maternal grandparents, stating how her grandfather, a strong patriarch, was affected by the loss of her grandmother, Dinah.
“They used to write letters to each other. It was a beautiful love story. I just never got to experience all of it,” said Ayanda.
“What I do know is that when ugogo (granny) passed on, my mom’s siblings didn’t think umkhulu (grandpa) would live long because they were inseparable,” she added.