The Nadine Nana wedding began with one line on Instagram. When the Rwandan actress, who goes by Nadine Nanaa on Instagram, posted her engagement photos in July, she told her fans that here was the man her soul had been waiting for.
Four months later the waiting is over. On Sunday, 8 November 2026, Nadine Nana, born Iradukunda Nadine, exchanged vows with Gafenge Fred in a church ceremony followed by a reception at Jalia Garden.
The couple were already married in the eyes of the state. Isimbi reported that they signed their civil marriage on 29 October, and that the traditional rites before it drew a guest list that read like a who’s who of Rwandan entertainment.
★ Couple profile · Rwanda
Nadine Nana & Gafenge Fred
- 15 Jul 2026The ring
- Late Aug 2026Gufata irembo
- Before 29 OctGusaba & gukwa
- 29 Oct 2026Civil marriage
- 8 Nov 2026Church wedding
The Nadine Nana wedding in three acts
Like most Rwandan couples, Nadine and Fred did not get married once. They did it in stages, and each one carried its own weight.
The first came on 15 July 2026, when Fred gave her an engagement ring. She shared the photos on Instagram with a caption in Kinyarwanda, “Dore umugabo w’iteka ryose roho yange yari imaze igihe itegereje”, which translates roughly as “Here is my forever man, the one my soul had long been waiting for.” Isimbi, which carried the news two days later, reported that the pair had been together for a long time and that he lives outside Rwanda.
In late August, Igihe reported that Fred had gone to her family home for gufata irembo, the first formal visit in which a suitor’s family announces its intentions to the bride’s people. That opened the way for the rest: gusaba, the formal request for her hand, and gukwa, the presentation of the bride price, both held at Jalia Hall & Garden. The civil ceremony followed on 29 October, and the church wedding closed the circle on 8 November.
If you are new to these rites, our explainer Gusaba and gukwa: inside a Rwandan traditional wedding walks through each step, and our guide to bride price customs across Africa shows how the Rwandan tradition sits alongside lobola, ruracio and la dot.
Who came to the Nadine Nana wedding
The traditional ceremony pulled in a crowd from Rwanda’s screen and music scene. According to Isimbi, guests included journalist Tessy, Madederi, Bahavu Uwase Tracy, Seburikoko and DJ Diddyman.
One guest was there as family. Mutoni Saranda Oliva, the poet known as Saranda Poetess, is the groom’s sister, which made her one of the hosts rather than one of the visitors.
The biggest name on the day may have been Massamba Intore, the veteran singer and one of the best known voices in traditional Rwandan music. He escorted the bride out to her guests and then stayed on to entertain them.
Jalia hosted both the traditional rites and the reception, so guests who came for the gusaba could come back for the party. For couples planning their own celebration in Rwanda, our guide to planning a wedding in Kigali covers the seasons, venues and the three ceremonies most couples now hold.
Who is Nadine Nana? From a casting call to her own film
The Nadine Nana wedding lands at the busiest point of her career so far. Fans who follow her as Nadine Nanaa on Instagram have watched that career grow from the start. She told Cinemag in May that she answered her first casting call at the end of 2021 and was picked. Her screen debut came the following year in The Pact, and work quickly followed: 30 Days, Maya, Shuwadilu, Hurts Harder and the web series Behind, which she has named as her own favourite.
The role most viewers know her for is Sandra in City Maid. She has called it one of the defining moments of her career. In 2026 she moved behind the camera too, producing her first film, Stain (Icyasha in Kinyarwanda).
One point trips up a lot of fans. Nadine Nana is not the same person as Uwamwezi Nadege, the actress who played the character Nana in City Maid. The two share a series and a nickname, and Nadine has named Nadege as one of the actresses who inspired her, but they are different women with different stories.
What we still don’t know about the Nadine Nana wedding
The couple have kept some details to themselves. The church where they exchanged vows on 8 November has not been named in press reports, and nothing has been published about the gown, the designer or where the newlyweds plan to make their home, given Fred’s base outside Rwanda. Nadine has done most of her talking through her Instagram videos, and for now, those tell the story better than any guest list.
It has been a big week for celebrity weddings across the continent. In Accra, singer Efya married Tomi Thomas the day before Nadine’s church service; read our report on Efya’s white wedding.
Nadine Nana wedding: common questions
Who is Nadine Nana’s husband?
Nadine Nana married Gafenge Fred. He proposed on 15 July 2026, and Rwandan media reported in July that he lives outside Rwanda. His sister is the poet Mutoni Saranda Oliva, known as Saranda Poetess.
When was the Nadine Nana wedding?
The couple signed their civil marriage on 29 October 2026 and held their church wedding on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Their traditional gusaba and gukwa ceremonies came before that.
Where was the Nadine Nana wedding held?
The traditional gusaba and gukwa ceremonies took place at Jalia Hall & Garden, and the reception after the church wedding was held at Jalia Garden. The church has not been named in press reports.
Is Nadine Nana the same person as Nana from City Maid?
No. Nadine Nana (Iradukunda Nadine) plays Sandra in City Maid. The character Nana was played by Uwamwezi Nadege, a different actress. Read more about Rwandan traditions on Wikipedia’s page on the culture of Rwanda.
Sources: Isimbi (wedding, 8 November 2026), Isimbi (engagement, 17 July 2026), Igihe (gufata irembo, August 2026), Cinemag (career, May 2026).
