Mandi Kani is the wife of John Kani, a legendary South African actor, playwright, director, and author. While her year of birth is not known, she celebrates her birthday each year on the 19th of December.
Over the years, Mandi Kani has been in the spotlight as John Kani’s better half and the mother of famed actor, Atandwa Kani. She made a public appearance with her husband and son on the red carpet of the Hollywood blockbuster, The Lion King in 2019 in Los Angeles, United States. Oftentimes, she also accompanies John Kani to high-end events held in South Africa.
Mandi Kani’s Biography Summary
- Full name: Mandi Anathi Gulwa-Kani
- Nickname: Mandi
- Gender: Female
- Birthday: December 19th
- Ethnicity: Black
- Nationality: South African
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christian
- Marital Status: Married
- Mandi Kani’s Husband: John Kani
- Mandi Kani’s Children: 7; four sons including Atandwa Kani and three daughters
- Famous for: Being the wife of legendary playwright, John Kani and the mother of Atandwa Kani
Who is John Kani’s Wife?
John Kani is married to Mandi Kani, whom he refers to as either his girlfriend or Mrs. South Africa. Through the years, Mandi has been widely recognized for her unwavering support of her husband’s career. She is often celebrated by the Black Panther star for being his anchor in this radarless world.
What is Mandi Kani’s Age?
Mandi Kani’s age is not known, nevertheless, John Kani’s beloved wife was born on December 19th. On her birthday in 2021, their son Atandwa Kani took to IG to celebrate his beautiful mother. He was grateful for the love he had received from her. He also stated that he loved his mom and dad more than he had ever been able to say.
What Does Mandi Kani Do For a Living?
It’s yet unknown what John Kani’s wife had been up to in the past years as well as her chosen career path. She rose to fame in July 2019 when she attended the premiere of The Lion King together with her husband and son at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Mandi was staying low-key for several years despite her husband’s fame on the local and international scenes.
How Long Have Mandi Kani Been Married to John Kani?
John Kani and Mandi have been married for over 40 years, though it’s unclear the year they exchanged marital vows. While celebrating his mom’s birthday on December 19th, 2021, Atandwa Kani revealed that it was also his parent’s wedding anniversary.
The lovely couple seem inseparable and their love is still waxing strong. Shortly after the premiere of The Lion King, John Kani shared a photo he took with Mandi on Twitter and captioned it, ‘This is My Girlfriend. Mrs Mandi Kani?’ Also, when diagnosed with vertigo in early 2023, the “Nothing But the Truth” author heaped praises on his wife who kept a close eye on him for one week he stayed at home recuperating.
He asserted that Mandi keeps him grounded and is the one who says ‘home’. He added that she is his anchor in this radarless world. Besides accompanying her hubby to The Lion King premiere, John Kani’s wife was with him when he was honored by the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture with The Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series on his 80th birthday in August 2023.
Who are Mandi Kani’s Children?
Mandi Kani shares 7 children―four sons and three girls with her husband, John Kani. One of their sons is Atandwa Kani, who was born on June 6th, 1984 in Port Elizabeth and is 39 years old in 2024.
Atandwa studied Theatre Performance at the University of Witwatersrand and is best known for playing Tumelo in the American TV series, Life is Wild and the younger King T’Chaka in Black Panther. Atandwa Kani was married to Thembisa Mdoda from 2012 to 2015. Though he got remarried to Fikile Mthwalo in 2015, his marriage allegedly ended four years later.
From Atandwa and her other kids, Mandi and her husband are blessed with 10 grandchildren, including Alicia Kani.
