Alicia Keys shed her superstar image this week for a low-key Zulu blessing ceremony held beneath a “healing tree” in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Grammy award-winning singer, who is about five months pregnant, arrived in South Africa to headline the Fifa Kick-Off Concert in Soweto last week.

On Wednesday, Keys and Swizz Beatz, her music producer fiancé, both decked out in beads and leopard print, had their union and their unborn child blessed in a traditional ceremony at Illovo on the South Coast.

The ceremony took place under a huge fig tree – dubbed “the healing tree” – which symbolises good fortune and good health.

The R&B diva, known for her stylish wardrobe, swopped her blue jeans, cowboy boots and knee-length jersey to emerge from behind the tree in a skirt, a blue sash over her shoulder and a beaded headdress, necklace and bracelets.

Beatz, who has worked with the likes of Gwen Stefani and Beyonce, donned a red sarong decorated with an image of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, a leopard print silk sash and a leather peak cap with fur trimming.

The couple sang traditional Zulu songs and danced to the rhythmic beat of drums before the ceremony.

Keys and Beatz were accompanied by her mother, Terri Augello, her younger brother, Cole Cook, bodyguards and a film crew, documenting her “return to Africa” trip. Keys first visited South Africa in 2006.

The two-hour ceremony was arranged months in advance at Keys’s request by the non-governmental organisation, Bobbi Bear, a child abuse group funded by Keys’ Keep a Child Alive (KCA) Foundation. The local NGO runs a weekly HIV/Aids awareness clinic under the tree.

Staff from Bobbi Bear formed a circle and greeted the couple with songs of praise and welcome. They were joined by about 50 locals who gathered under the tree to watch the proceedings.

The Sunday Times was asked to respect the ceremony and not to photograph the couple being blessed. ”She (Keys) doesn’t mind that you’re here,” said a publicist, ”but she wants the ceremony to be private.”

Keys arrived in Durban on Tuesday to open the Blue Roof Wellness Centre in Wentworth, south of Durban. Also funded by the KCA, it has been transformed into a state-of-the-art HIV/Aids care centre.

The couple have been tweeting their visit to the country.

On the night of the opening ceremony, Keys tweeted: ”The Energy out here is STAGGERING!!!!! Unbelievable unbelieveable unbelievable!! I have a true connection w South Africa!! thank u 4 ur love!”

Beatz tried out Durban’s legendary bunny chow while here, describing it to his fans as “damn good”.

Before the couple left South Africa, Beatz tweeted: ”Much love and respect to all my people in SA. I had the time of my life now I’m on to the next 1.”