Media personality Nandi Madida turned the internet into a frenzy as she urged women to show grace to South African black men. She cited that they have faced centuries of oppression, government pressure and pressure to succeed overnight.
Nandi has been married to the Grammy-award-winning producer Zakhele Madida, popularly known as Zakes Bantwini, for a decade.
She visited L-Tido’s podcast to discuss her life achievements and touched on how South African black men deserve to be treated with patience because they have been through a lot.
This take was met with different reactions, with some saying Nandi is speaking from a place of privilege because she is married to one of the most successful musicians, and her father is a doctor.
However, some agreed with her opinion, citing that she is not invalidating the experiences of black women, but pointing out the plights of black men.
L-Tido took to his X (formerly Twitter) page to announce Nandi as a guest on his podcast.
Today at 4pm!!!! We got @Nandi_Madida on the L-Tido podcast 🍿🎥 MUST WATCH pic.twitter.com/PpTOD4bJUq
— 16V (@L_Tido) January 28, 2026
X users weighed in:
Saying black men don’t have it easy is in no way invalidating experiences of black women by the way so there’s no need to be dense. She’s merely pointing out the plights of black men and you’re disingenuous if you think she’s wrong.
Engaging in struggle Olympics given our… https://t.co/dQxrsvmhOW
— Hlovo (@hlovo_) January 29, 2026
As a country, we firmly stand with Nandi Madida in these difficult times of Western values that are misleading both men and women in Africa. I wish she’d consider hosting some sessions with her gender to speak some sense into them because some of them are really lost! pic.twitter.com/xnOKZpXO4C
— ツ Lord Ori (@Lord_Ori_) January 29, 2026
Nandi Madida has a tendency to speak from a place of privilege but muhle shame.
— MaLih (@Lindy_nzabe) January 29, 2026
I’m sorry but this is such a disingenuous take. also, for context, her dad’s a doctor, educated and lives a comfortable life. Her husband is one of the most successful African musicians. It’s okay to acknowledge that such takes are from a place of privilege https://t.co/N9UeY9h7G1
— Mwana waRukiya (@___nyasha) January 29, 2026
Also see: Nandi Madida to Lead Landmark TIME Africa G20 Impact Summit in Joburg
