Review: Downward spiral of the vicious circle
Africa’s sauciest reality show is losing its spice.
Wilfred Okiche
There remains something compulsively fascinating about Young, Famous & African, Netflix’s reality television show about wealthy, badly behaved B-list celebrities hanging out in Johannesburg. But the novelty is wearing off.
Three seasons in, it is clear that these guys are more contractually obligated players than friends. The artifice is painfully obvious. They only hang out for tea or over-the-top dinner parties where everyone is curiously dressed to the max. And in the off-season, some of the drama from the show spilled over to social media.
But when the show is at its most genuine – which is any time troubled Nigerian actress Annie Idibia and her celebrity hubby appear onscreen – it can speak volumes about the wreckage that fame, infidelity and familial dysfunction can leave on a person.
Other African stars returning for this uneven third season include Ugandan socialite Zari “The Boss Lady” Hassan, who has a taste for bitchery and boy toys, and Zimbabwean-South African rapper Nadia Nakai, whose music career may or may not be struggling depending on who is observing. These ladies provide some of the show’s more truthful moments.
Tanzanian pop star Diamond Platnumz is also back, but his entire personality is stuck in playboy mode. His ridiculous entanglement subplot with Ghanaian rapper Fantana has been stale since last season, yet still they double down on it.
Apart from great gowns and splashy entrances, it is increasingly hard to justify what Nigerian celebrity stylist Swanky Jerry brings to the table.
The presence of actress Khanyi Mbau, a sort of anchor for the previous two seasons, has been scaled back considerably. New players include Nollywood sweetheart Ini Edo and South African influencer Kefilwe Mabote, both struggling to find their rhythm.
Young, Famous & African still brings the low-stakes drama. This in itself might be worth the price of admission. But three seasons in, it begins to feel like everyone – and everything – is just moving around in circles. Except for Annie Idibia. That woman needs help – pronto!
Half an episode left me depressed and disgusted knowing people really do behave like this.