Hagen Engler weds his Xhosa sweetheart

Melody Brandon WEEKEND POST REPORTER brandonm@avusa.co.za

IT may sound like a typical love story – boy meets girl in passing, they don‘t see each other for years and then, by sheer chance, they meet up later and fall in love – but this love story is a little different.

In fact, the wedding of Hagen Engler and Nomfundo Marele in St Francis Bay today will be a far cry from the traditional.

Weekend Post columnist Engler, a former sub-editor at the paper, who now edits popular men‘s magazine FHM, met Marele in passing after a gig with his former band, the Jedi Rollers, in Port Elizabeth in 2001.

“We liked each other but it was nothing more,” explained Engler, 37, amid last- minute wedding arrangements this week. Years later, the couple, who both grew up in the Bay, met up again at a mutual friend‘s dinner party in Johannesburg.

“We remembered meeting each other before and exchanged numbers. I wouldn‘t say it was love at first sight – more interest at first sight – but it‘s grown into love. Nomfundo is beautiful and great fun to be with,” Engler said.

The couple will celebrate their commitment to each other in a fused Xhosa- Western ceremony today.

“Hagen‘s family has been negotiating lobola with my family,” said Marele, 29. “It looks like the discussions are on track and will be finalised in time for the wedding.”

Instead of exchanging wedding bands, the couple will exchange specially-made Xhosa beads to symbolise their union.

The beach wedding will be overseen by Phumelele Magida, adviser to the Xhosa royal family. “Years ago I did not think I‘d ever see a wedding with a black and white person – this is the fruit of democracy,” Magida said.

Engler added: “Essentially the wedding is a mixture between Xhosa and Western cultures. If I were to say which culture I belong to, then it would be the surfer culture, so getting married on the beach appealed to me.”

Having had to plan their big day from Johannesburg, where both are now based, the couple roped in a wedding planner to assist them.

Marele was born in Kwazakhele and moved to Motherwell during her teens. Her parents and close family still live in Motherwell, but most of her other relatives will travel from Bhisho to attend the wedding.

The bride-to-be can‘t wait to start her new life as a married woman. “When I first met Hagen I had no idea this would be the man I‘d spend the rest of my life with. He is great, he is interesting and we learn new things about each other every day.”

Engler may lead a busy life but always makes time for his special woman. Besides editing FHM, he is a musician, writer and photographer and is also working on a film based on a book he has written about Port Elizabeth.

The couple will honeymoon on the Wild Coast. “I‘ve never been to the Wild Coast,” said Marele, whose only gripe about her future husband is that he “never stops to ask for directions – ever. But maybe that‘s just a guy thing”.

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