You know what they say: show me your friends and I’ll show you who you are. Nothing validates your celebrity status like being friends with the biggest international celebrities, especially if the relationship is close enough for casual appearances in each other’s spheres.
These ZAlebs have made friends with the who’s who’s in the global entertainment scene, and we can only stan.
Black Coffee
DJ Black Coffee has to be one of Mzansi’s brightest international stars. He is internationally recognised, not just in Africa, but also in the rest of the world. He has played multiple gigs in Europe and the Americas, and even has a home in Los Angeles. In fact, he recently had his song featured as a soundtrack on the latest movie in The Matrix franchise.
So it should come as no surprise that he is friends with global stars. He has mingled with Drake and Jay-Z on multiple occasions. Now before you start to think that it was a chance encounter that he is clinging to for clout, it is not. He has them both on speed dial. In fact, Drake recently face-timed Black Coffee’s son, leaving us all choking on jealousy.
He was also recently hanging out with Burna Boy on a casual birthday celebration, so you know it was a personal invitation.
Now THAT’S an international star!
Zari Hassan
Ugandan-born socialite and businesswoman Zari Hassan also certainly has international friends. After all, she is originally Ugandan, and has spent a significant amount of time in East Africa.
Read also: Zari Hassan Blackmailed By Son
But the most notable of her international celebrity friends is her ex lover and baby daddy, Tanzanian music icon Diamond Platnumz. The two had a beautiful relationship that resulted in two children. And although they had a rocky breakup marred with cheating allegations against Diamond, the two have managed to build a solid, mature co-parenting relationship marked with genuine friendship, and we love to see it.
Read also: Zari Won’t Be Bullied
Trevor Noah
Actor and comedian Trevor Noah should be the least surprising name on this list. While he is still very South African and identifies as so, he has also grown big enough to be recognised as a global star. Which is why it is also obvious that he has quite a few international celebrity friends.
Not only is he friends with most of the big American names you can think of, he has also made alliances with those from diverse backgrounds like Kenyan-Mexican-American actress Lupita Nyong’o. The two were even thought to be dating at some point, but it was probably just one of those intense chemistry things that never turn into anything more than friendship.
He is dating a big international star, though. He brought his girlfriend, American actress Minka Kelly, home with him to Mzansi, where she met his friends and family. It looks like the relationship is heating up, and we are here for it.
Read also: Trevor Noah Spotted With Ex Bae
Oh, and here is a picture of him casually fist-bumping Beyonce right after Jay-Z, like it’s just a regular Tuesday for him.
Elsa Majimbo
No star has risen as fast as Kenyan-born comedian Elsa Majimbo – although Uncle Waffles comes close. In just one year after she became a viral sensation because of her funny and relatable TikTok videos, the 20-year old has already mingled with some of the biggest names, both locally and on the global stage.
Read also: Elsa Majimbo Mingles With Local Celebs
She received a package of Icy Park from Beyonce, and has once shared a screenshot of an Instagram conversation in which she and Rihanna discussed buying a house together like they have known each other forever. She has also been globe trotting and making new friends, even recently celebrating Diwali with Priyanka Chopra, Lilly Singh and Kal Penn.
Oh, and Steve Harvery just adopted her as his niece! And we’re sure that’s not even half of the big names on her contacts list. We can only stan!
Nomzamo Mbatha
Actress, TV personality and human rights activist Nomzamo Mbatha has been living in the United States for some time now. It shouldn’t have been surprising to know that she was rubbing shoulders with global icons, but we may have severely underestimated the calibre of her connections.
Read more: Nomzamo Enjoys SA Cuisine With Oprah
We were all pleasantly surprised when she shared that she was being hosted by Oprah Winfrey for Thanksgiving. She was part of a group of African-born female American celebrities who the talk show host had over to her place for an afternoon of African cuisine. She imagined the holiday would be lonely for them, so she chose to bridge the gap. How sweet of her!
Here is a photo of Nomzamo casually mingling with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for the ultimate FOMO.
Read also: Mzansi Approves Nomzamo’s Latest Project
Thuso Mbedu
Oprah certainly has a soft spot for empowered black women – she did set up The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Gauteng – so it is not very surprising that she would be friends with Mzansi’s female celebrities. In addition to Nomzamo, she is also friends with actress Thuso Mbedu.
Oprah has hosted her more than once on her show, and they have even had a public video call to discuss The Underground Railroad. She also moved Oprah to tears, which we know is not easy.
Thuso is set to star in a big American production alongside Viola Davis and other talented acts, so her network of international stars is certain to grow too.
Read more: Thuso Takes Oprah On A Wild Ride
Just in case you were about to underestimate any of these ZAlebs, this is your alert to refrain from it. And yes, they are total goals.
