When Nigerian-American actor and musician Rotimi met Tanzanian pop icon Vanessa Mdee backstage at the 2019 Essence Festival, neither expected their casual introduction would lead to a life-changing love story.
“She was sitting on a pool table,” Rotimi recalled, smiling during the couple’s first-ever joint interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo. “The lights were glowing and beaming, and I just thought, ‘Yo, who is this?’”
The chance encounter sparked hours of deep conversation—and within days, the two were inseparable. What began as a long-distance relationship between Atlanta and Tanzania soon became a shared life, two children, a wedding in 2021, and a joint mission to live with intention and faith.
Lockdown, Love, and a Leap of Faith
While the COVID-19 pandemic forced much of the world into stillness, for Rotimi and Vanessa, it became sacred ground for connection.
“I really thank God,” Vanessa said. “He was creating an environment for us to really dive deep into getting to know each other on a very intimate and spiritual level.”
A planned short visit from Tanzania to the U.S. turned into an extended stay when international borders closed. Vanessa, once one of East Africa’s biggest stars, found herself resting for the first time in years.
“I had been working since I was 18. I’d never taken time off,” she said.
Rotimi, riding the success of his breakout hit In My Bed, credits that pause with changing his life’s trajectory. “God wanted me to sit down and heal a lot of things,” he said. “And He blessed me with the opportunity to learn this woman.”
Vanessa stunned fans when she publicly stepped away from her music career in 2020 at its peak, citing the emotional and spiritual toll of the industry.
“It became extremely toxic for me,” she said. “I turned to vices that weren’t good for me. For my mental, spiritual, and physical health, I needed to walk away.”
Now, she co-leads For The Better, the couple’s wellness and faith-based platform, mentoring women around the world through prayer circles, Bible study, and an upcoming women’s conference.
“I just want everything I do to be meaningful, purposeful, and effective,” she said.
Rotimi, born Olurotimi Akinosho, has also evolved. While continuing to act—currently portraying Pastor Charles on Showtime’s The Chi—and release new music, he views his career through a new lens.
“The job is to be a vessel,” he said. “It’s not about chasing spotlight—it’s about service.”
Their relationship, grounded in shared values and spirituality, is what they describe as a “kingdom marriage.”
“We’re not perfect,” Vanessa said. “But we know who’s at the center of it all: God.”
They’re raising two young children in a richly multicultural household—Yoruba, Swahili, and American traditions intertwine in everyday life. “We want to give our kids both roots and wings,” Rotimi added.
From bedtime prayers to creative playtime, the couple says they’re focused on nurturing both talent and character in their children.
“Raising strong, grounded children takes presence,” said Vanessa. “It’s about being intentional with our time and building them up in Christ.”
While the pair continues to build their careers and faith-driven brand, they’re not ruling out the possibility of full-time ministry.
“It would be foolish to say no, but it’s too early to say yes,” Rotimi said. “We just know whatever we do—it’s going to be for His glory.”
For now, their calling is clear: to live boldly, love deeply, and lead with purpose.
