Denzel Washington and the Mzansi stars who embraced their spirituality in 2024
This year saw numerous celebrities embracing their spiritual journeys.
This includes Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington who recently got baptised in New York City and subsequently received his minister’s license.
The Hollywood star’s baptism comes after he had spoken about finding God in an interview with “Esquire”.
“When you see me, you see the best I could do with what I’ve been given by my Lord and saviour. I’m unafraid,” he said in the interview.
“I don’t care what anyone thinks. See, talking about the fear part of it - you can’t talk like that and win Oscars. You can’t talk like that and party. You can’t say that in this town,” he added.
“I’m free now. It’s not talked about in this town. It’s not talked about. It’s not fashionable. It’s not sexy. But that doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe.”
Meanwhile, several South African stars also turned to to their faith this year.
This includes DJ Tira’s wife, Gugu Khathi, who kicked off 2024 by getting baptised.
“Lord, thank you for the precious gift of baptism, that we can publicly declare our love and passion for you,” she wrote on social media at the time.
“Lord, I ask for your goodness and blessings to be poured out onto me as your faithful servant. We pray that you would work deeply within my heart and soul to renew and refresh me each day and all my days on earth,” she added.
Local rapper and businessman Cassper Nyovest also chose to turn his life around this year.
This came after he confessed to being a sex addict following Thobeka Majozi, his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his son, Khotso, finding out about his infidelity.
“Life can get hard but life is never a burden. Life is beyond human understanding but life is not confusing when you lean on the word of God,” he shared on Instagram earlier this year.
“You are very smart but you don’t know anything if you don’t know God. Jesus is the light.”
After splitting from Majozi, Nyovest married his childhood sweetheart, Pulane Mojaki in April. Meanwhile, Majozi, who was heartbroken following an unpleasant breakup with Nyovest, also turned to Jesus for comfort.
“Mama, it’s our time now to keep the altars burning. May our prayers cover our children and their children’s children. No production, no performances just an opportunity of intentional prayer and praise,” she wrote on Instagram.
In addition, DJ Black Coffee also turned his life around and devoted himself to Jesus after being involved in a harrowing place accident in January.
The internationally renowned musician explained to Kaya FM that the incident opened his eyes.
“I saw my life ending. I wasn't even praying to be alive, I was just praying to get to Heaven. I was like, 'Don't lock me out, God'. I don't want to be on the other side. I feel like I have been given a second chance," he said.
Reality TV star Inno Matijane also shocked many when he changed his pronouns from she/her to him/her.
The former “The Way Ngingakhona” star posted a lengthy video explaining that he chose faith over his sexuality and was ditching homosexuality for Christianity.
“I’ve been living as a queer person but still praying to God and surrendering to God but there’s one particular thing that I felt like I was just in denial and that was my sexuality – which is going to come across as surprising to a lot of people because humans regarded me as a trans woman and I was very proud,” he said.
“Even last week I was still proud and this does not change anything, it does not change the fact that I have an attraction towards guys, but understanding God and his truth is understanding that God does not look at that per se when we try to defend ourselves by saying we were born out of sin,” he added.
Although some members of the LGBTQIA+ community criticised him, some supported Matijane and stood by him.
