Young, Famous and African show promises ‘love, drama and soft life’

The series features musician Diamond Platnumz and his ex-wife, Zari Hassan, as they navigate through co-parenting. [Courtesy]

Young, Famous and African, a reality TV show released on Netflix over the weekend has caused a stir among film lovers.

It is captivating, enthralling and an instant attraction.

The fact that it features Tanzania musician Diamond Platnumz and his ex-wife, Zari Hassan’s co-operating relationship, viewers are bound to be hooked.  

Other cast members are South African actress and media personality Khanyi Mbau, Nigerian Afrobeat superstar Innocent ‘2baba’ Idibia, his wife; Nigerian actress Annie Macaulay Idibia, Quinton ‘Naked Masina’ ( a celebrated South African DJ), South-African Zimbabwean rapper Nadia Nakai and Nigerian superstar stylist Swanky Jerry ( real name Jeremiah Ogbodo).

Also starring is the popular South African TV personality and entrepreneur, Andile Ncube as well, as DJ Naked’s fitness enthusiast girlfriend, Kayleigh Schwark.

The sights and sounds of wealth, opulence and success are evident in this latest series.

East Africa’s Diamond has been portrayed as a soft-spoken playboy, who has a way with the ladies- and possible feelings for his ex-beau, Zari.

In the series, castmates, question the smooth co-parenting relationship between the pair, who insist that they are just good friends. “Throughout the series, Zari is often on the other end of a disagreement with cast members, like Annie and Khanyi. After a public breakup and cheating scandal with her ex-husband and the father of two of her five kids, Zari co-parents with Diamond, while also exchanging eyes with Andile,” Elle Magazine reports on the show.

Another intriguing twist is the love that brews between Zari and TV personality Andile, with whom a spark is evident.

Viewers marvelled at the drama that seemingly follows the self-proclaimed boss lady, who repeatedly says that things are not all rosy with the rest of the cast because they are “intimidated by her confidence.”

“Not short of the soft life and ‘shots fired’, the show gives fans a ringside view of African celebrity at its most dramatic, charismatic and extravagant,” South African news website News24 reports.

Elle Magazine describes the show as an opportunity for viewers to catch a glimpse of the lavish, glamorous side of Africa, as that representation has long been missing on TV.

“Viewers who have been yearning for a show to bring the elements of successful series like Bling Empire and Selling Sunset to the African continent will want to meet the eccentrically vibrant cast of Young, Famous & African,” the magazine reports.

Another interesting story-line is that of Idibia and his wife, who has been known as a power couple that has gone through rocky patches in their marriage. Now, the pair open up about their 10-year marriage.

As they choose to stay together and make their adorable family work, they must face the demons of the hardships they have faced so far, including infidelity.

“The women are powerhouses, owning their labels and refusing to get walked all over by the men in their lives. This first instalment of the series sees bonds tested as the group navigates their relationships with one another and new potential romances form. Based on these first 45 minutes alone, it’s clear we’re about to watch a lot of drama go down,” TV review website, Decider reports.

Peace Hyde, the show’s Co-creator and Executive Producer, notes in an interview with AfricaNews, said that one of the major goals of the series is to break the stereotypical https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images about Africa portrayed in media.

“This has been a labour of love. Growing up in the UK, there were no glitzy and sexy https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images of Africa; all we saw were the stereotypical https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images that have been propelled in the media for years. The show presents an Africa that is vibrant, beautiful, glossy, and sexy to the world.”