Alicia Keys has Zulu blessing ceremony

Alicia Keys has had herupcoming marriage blessed in a Zulu ceremony in South Africa.

The singer recently confirmed she is engaged to rapper Swizz Beatz, who she is expecting her first child with. The couple have been in South Africa recently, where Alicia performed at the concert to commemorate the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup at Soweto`s Orlando Stadium.

While in the country the pair have immersed themselves in its history, and decided to have their impending nuptials blessed in a traditional ceremony.

According to reports, Alicia and Swizz travelled to Durban where they put on traditional robes and sang. The service is said to have taken place under a fig tree, which British newspaper The Sun reports is also known as a "healing tree".

The pair also asked for their unborn child to be blessed.

Swizz and Alicia have been dating since May 2009. They prompted speculation they were engaged in January, when Alicia was seen sporting a seven-carat diamond ring on her left hand. Her spokesman confirmed the engagement in May, revealing they will tie the knot later this year.

sections: Celebrities