# Young, Famous & African

Young, Famous & African is an African reality television series on Netflix, starring African stars Khanyi Mbau, Ini Edo, Annie Macaulay-Idibia, Zari Hassan, Diamond Platnumz, Andile Ncube, Swanky Jerry, Naked DJ, Nadia Nakai, Luis Munana, Kayleigh Schwark, Fantana and 2Baba. The show focused on building careers, looking for love, and rekindling old flames of famous media personalities from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania.
As Netflix's first African reality series, it premiered on 18 March 2022.

## Plot

The show follows a group of friends who are African entertainers and A-listers as they go about their lives having fun, flirting and fighting in Johannesburg, South Africa.
They hail from five African countries. South African actress and media personality Khanyi Mbau is the central character of the group who is in a relationship with a Zimbabwean businessman. Separated couple Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania and his ex-girlfriend, South African-based Ugandan businesswoman Zari Hassan navigate their post-separation relationship, moving on and co-parenting.
Nigerian model Annie Macaulay-Idibia and her musician husband 2Baba deal with issues of previous infidelity and restoration. Nigerian fashion stylist Swanky Jerry is another central character who often appears as a peacemaker in the group.
South African rapper Nadia Nakai who is in a long-distance relationship, and single guy and broadcaster Andile Ncube also feature as potential love interests of other cast members.
Twice-divorced South African Naked DJ and his footballer girlfriend Kayleigh Schwark go through the challenges of dating life and their 12-year age gap.

## Cast

* Annie Macaulay-Idibia
* Bonang Matheba
* Diamond Platnumz
* Swanky Jerry
* Zari Hassan
* Nadia Nakai
* 2Baba
* Khanyi Mbau
* Naked DJ
* Kayleigh Schwark
* Andile Ncube
* Luis Munana
* Ini Edo
* Kefilwe Mabote
* Fantana
| Person | Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 |
| Khanyi Mbau | Yes | Yes | Guest |
| Diamond Platnumz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Naked DJ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Zari Hassan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swanky Jerry | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Andile Ncube | Yes | Yes | No |
| Annie Macaluay | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nadia Nakai | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kayleigh Schwark | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fantana | No | Yes | Yes |
| Luis Munana | No | Yes | Yes |
| Bonang Matheba | No | Recurring | Guest |
| 2Baba | Recurring | Recurring | Guest |
| Kefilwe Mabote | No | No | Yes |
| Shakib | No | No | Yes |
| Ini Edo | No | No | Yes |

## Episodes

| Series | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| 1 | 7 | 7 | 18 March 2022 (2022-03-18) | 18 March 2022 (2022-03-18) |
| 2 | 9 | 9 | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) |
| 3 | 8 | 8 | 17 January 2025 (2025-01-17) | 17 January 2025 (2025-01-17) |

### Season 1 (2022)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Original release date |
| 1 | 1 | "Welcome to South Africa" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 18 March 2022 (2022-03-18) |
| Queen of bling Khanyi Mbau throws a ball for her friends; Diamond Platnumz's heartbreak emerges as he woos Nadia Nakai; parenting talk gets intense. |||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Newcomer" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 18 March 2022 (2022-03-18) |
| Diamond hands the wheel to Nadia as they shop; Khanyi and Annie Macaulay-Idibia clash; Kayleigh Schwark spills about life with Naked DJ. |||||
| 3 | 3 | "Love Is in the Air" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 18 March 2022 (2022-03-18) |
| Zari makes a splash at a soiree; Diamond gets called out by Naked, who spars with Khanyi; a loved one shows up. |||||
| 4 | 4 | "Bye, Bitch!" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 18 March 2022 (2022-03-18) |
| African queens are on a collision course; Annie shares her joy, but Zari takes 2Face to the side; Andile Ncube assembles all his friends including his two baby mamas for a posh party. |||||
| 5 | 5 | "Faceoff" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 18 March 2022 (2022-03-18) |
| Entanglements turn explosive, Zari confides in Khanyi, Annie gossips with Swanky and Nadia, and Andile makes time for love. |||||
| 6 | 6 | "Murder on the Blue Train" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 18 March 2022 (2022-03-18) |
| Zari invites the squad on a luxury train trip; awkwardness -- and lions -- rattle the crew; Nadia has big news. |||||
| 7 | 7 | "Wedding Bells" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 18 March 2022 (2022-03-18) |
| A lavish vow renewal approaches; the men shift gears for a speedy bachelor party while Swanky shakes up a tense bachelorette party. |||||

### Season 2 (2023)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Original release date |
| 8 | 1 | "Awkward Reunions" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) |
| 9 | 2 | "Masks Off" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) |
| 10 | 3 | "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) |
| 11 | 4 | "The Queen B" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) |
| 12 | 5 | "Showdown" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) |
| 13 | 6 | "Oh Baby!" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) |
| 14 | 7 | "Trailer Proposal" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) |
| 15 | 8 | "Gloves Off" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) |
| 16 | 9 | "Trials and Tribulations" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) |

### Season 3 (2025)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Original release date |
| 8 | 1 | "Loves's in the air" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 17 January 2025 (2025-01-17) |
| 9 | 2 | "Boundaries? Boundaries!" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 17 January 2025 (2025-01-17) |
| 10 | 3 | "Showdown" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 17 January 2025 (2025-01-17) |
| 11 | 4 | "Who Rules the Jungle?" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 17 January 2025 (2025-01-17) |
| 12 | 5 | "Oh Baby!" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 17 January 2025 (2025-01-17) |
| 13 | 6 | "Shots Fired" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 17 January 2025 (2025-01-17) |
| 14 | 7 | "Something's Cooking" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 17 January 2025 (2025-01-17) |
| 15 | 8 | "Breakups and Makeups" | Peace HydeMartin Asare Amankwa | 17 January 2025 (2025-01-17) |

## Production

On 22 June 2021, Netflix partnered with the creator and executive producer, Peace Hyde, to produce its first African reality series. On 25 September 2021, Netflix premiered Young, Famous & African at Tudum: A Global Fan Event in Brazil, among 60 Netflix Originals.
On 14 February 2022, the official trailer was released on Netflix's YouTube channel. The show premiered on 18 March.
The third season premiered on January 17, 2025, with South African content creator Kefilwe Mabote, iconic Nigerian actress Ini Edo, and Ugandan boxer and entrepreneur Shakib Lutaaya joining the cast.<

## Reception
### Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 2022 | African Entertainment Awards USA | Best Reality TV Shows | Young, Famous & African | Won | |
| 2023 | National Film & TV Awards South Africa | Best Reality TV Show | Young, Famous & African | Won |