It’s not two leaders who fell in love with me, but two real people. I feel privileged that I have shared my life with two such exceptional men – Graça Machel
Graça Simbine Machel was born on 17 October 1945, in Gaza, Mozambique, and she was the last child in a family of six. Her father died three weeks before her birth and left an instruction that she must be educated through high school. A will that was carried out by her older siblings.
Graça Simbine Machel education
After completing high school, the Methodist church granted her a scholarship to study at Lisbon University, Portugal. And she chose to major in languages.
Due to Surveillance from the Portuguese secret police, she was forced to abandon her education and fled to Switzerland.
In 1973, she returned to Tanzania and joined the FRELIMO where she met her first husband,Samora Machel – the first president of Mozambique.
There are many things Africa has given the world which is why it’s such a wonderful place to live. Having two presidents in a country at a time is extraordinary, but the motherland has also had the only woman to have become the First Lady of two different countries – Mozambique and South Africa.
Meet Graça Simbine Machel, the only person in history of the universe to have been the first spouse to two different democratically elected African leaders.![]() |
Meet the Only Woman in Modern History to Have Married Two Presidents |
Graça Simbine Machel education
After completing high school, the Methodist church granted her a scholarship to study at Lisbon University, Portugal. And she chose to major in languages.
Due to Surveillance from the Portuguese secret police, she was forced to abandon her education and fled to Switzerland.
![]() |
Meet the Only Woman in Modern History to Have Married Two Presidents |