How Rotimi and Vanessa Mdee's chance romance became a deep dive into faith and purpose

CNN

a day ago

When Nigerian American actor-singer Rotimi and Tanzanian pop star Vanessa Mdee first met in 2019, it was the beginning of a love story that neither of them expected.
That first encounter six years ago could be straight from a rom-com. They had both just performed at the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans and ended up at the same Spotify afterparty – neither one particularly eager to be there. But fate had other plans.
'She was sitting on a pool table,' Rotimi laughs. 'The lights were glowing and beaming, and I just thought, 'Yo, who is this?''
A friend of Rotimi made the introduction, which led to several hours of deep conversation. Within days, they were inseparable. A long-distance relationship began – Vanessa in Tanzania, Rotimi in Atlanta, Georgia, in the US – and she came to visit not long after. 'I never left,' Vanessa says with a grin.
Now, several years, two children, and a wedding later, the power couple opened up to CNN's Larry Madowo in their first-ever joint interview about love, legacy and living an intentional life of faith.
Love in lockdown
While the Covid-19 pandemic forced much of the world into stillness, for Rotimi and Vanessa, it became a sacred time. 'I really thank God because he was creating an environment for us to really dive deep into getting to know each other on a very intimate and spiritual level,' Vanessa reflects.
At the encouragement of Rotimi, she booked a flight to the US for a mini vacation, but it became an extended stay due to travel restrictions.
'If I had been a day late, we wouldn't have been able to see each other for the period of nine-plus months during which the borders were locked,' she says.
The lockdown forced them both into a much-needed break.
Cecil and Keke Hammond are bridging cultures in Nigeria. About 20 years ago, the first Rhythm Unplugged concert was created in Lagos to provide a platform for Nigerian artists. later, Flytime Fest was developed to expand that original concept. 'I came onto the scene at the age of 18 years old, so I had been working well into my 30s at this point and I had never taken time off,' Vanessa adds.
The timing was also divine for Rotimi, who had just released the hit 'In My Bed.'
'For me, during that time, if the world was open and my record 'In My Bed' had just come out, I would have been moving around touring for the whole run of that song, still doing what I needed to do, and my mind wouldn't have been on anything else,' he says.
That time off allowed something deeper than fame to grow, the couple says, sparking a journey toward faith, family and purpose.
'God wanted me to sit down and heal a lot of things,' Rotimi adds, 'and He blessed me with the opportunity to learn this woman.'
From fame to faith
Vanessa, once one of East Africa's biggest music stars, made headlines when she walked away from the industry at the height of her career in 2020. But the decision wasn't impulsive – it was deeply spiritual.
'For me, (the music industry) was depleting my mental, spiritual, emotional and physical health in many ways. I turned to many different vices that were not good for me as a person,' she says.
'It got to a point where the music industry became extremely toxic for me. I'm not saying it's everybody's story; it's my story.'
Today, she co-leads 'For The Better,' the couple's faith-based wellness app and community, where she mentors women across the globe through Bible studies, prayer circles, and now a women's conference.
'I just want every time I step out and do something to be meaningful, purposeful, and effective,' she adds.
Rotimi, whose real name is Olurotimi Akinosho, has embraced a life beyond the spotlight, although he continues to build his career with his current role as Pastor Charles on the Showtime series 'The Chi' while releasing new music.
'The job is to be a vessel,' the 36-year-old says. 'God works in mysterious ways; it's not a cookie-cutter approach – it's more of a roundabout way.'
A 'kingdom marriage'
Their love is both bold and deeply rooted. Married in 2021, they refer to their relationship as a 'kingdom marriage,' grounded in their shared faith.
'We're not perfect,' Vanessa says. 'But we know who's at the center of it all: God.'
Together, they are raising two children and navigating a blended cultural household where Yoruba, Swahili and American traditions harmonize.
'(The children) know they're 50% Tanzanian and 50% Nigerian, and they can champion that,' Rotimi says. 'It's about giving our kids roots and wings.'
'Building a strong foundation for our children requires a lot of time, commitment, and being very present – like playing with the kids, nurturing their skills, and honing their crafts while giving them a strong foundation in Christ,' adds Vanessa.
From love-centered music and wellness apps to Bible studies, it's clear Rotimi and Vanessa feel they are on a mission that reflects a deeper calling. However, when asked if ministry was in their future, the couple was uncertain.
'It would be foolish for us to say no, but it's too early to say yes,' Rotimi says.
'I just know that whatever we do, it's going to be for His glory,' Vanessa adds.