Young, Famous and African: Meet the wealthy South African A-listers who are lifting the lid on their VERY glam lives (and A LOT of behind-the-scenes drama) for new Netflix reality series – from a popstar to a CEO socialite

• Premiering on March 18, the show follows a group of South African celebrities who work and play in Sandton, Johannesburg, the richest square mile in Africa
• Socialite Zarinah ‘Zari’ Hassan, musician Diamond Platnumz, actress Khanyi Mbau, and rapper Nadia Nakai are among those featured in the series 
• From the looks of the trailer, there are already plenty of feuds brewing, including a complicated history between Diamond and Zari, who share two kids together
• Nigerian model Annie Macaulay-Idibia and her musician husband, Innocent ‘2Baba’ Idibia, are one of the main couples on the series
• Meanwhile, Quinton ‘Naked DJ’ Masina appears on the show with his girlfriend Kayleigh Schwark, though little is known about the alleged socialite

A group of wealthy A-list stars in South Africa are showing off their lavish lifestyles as they balance building their fortunes with their personal drama on Netflix’s new reality series Young, Famous & African.

The upcoming show follows the glamorous lives of socialite Zarinah ‘Zari’ Hassan, musician Diamond Platnumz, actress Khanyi Mbau, rapper Nadia Nakai, TV personality Andile Ncube, and others as they work and play in Sandton, Johannesburg— the richest square mile in Africa. 

‘Being rich and famous is not easy,’ celebrity stylist Jeremiah Ogbodo, who is best known as ‘Swanky Jerry,’ insists in the glitzy trailer for the show, which premieres on March 18. 

The upcoming Netflix reality series Young, Famous & African follows the glamorous lives of a group of A-listers in South Africa, including socialite Zarinah ‘Zari’ Hassan (pictured)

The A-listers work and play in Sandton, Johannesburg, the richest square mile in Africa

Nigerian model Annie Macaulay-Idibia and her musician husband, Innocent ‘2Baba’ Idibia, are one of the main couples on the series, while Quinton ‘Naked DJ’ Masina appears on the show with his girlfriend Kayleigh Schwark, though little is known about the alleged socialite. 

From the looks of the trailer, there are already plenty of feuds brewing, including a complicated history between Diamond and his ex Zari, with whom he shares two of his four children.

Here, FEMAIL dives into the real lives of the show’s over-the-top stars and how they rose to fame in South Africa. 

Zarinah ‘Zari’ Hassan 

The 41-year-old socialite, musician, and entrepreneur was born and raised in Jinja, Uganda, and is now a mother of five. 

She developed a passion for singing at an early age and attended school in London before returning to her home country, where she met her late husband, Ivan Ssemwanga. They married in 2001. 

Together, they co-founded Brooklyn City College (BCC), a South African-based educational institute. She is now CEO of the business, which is headquartered in Pretoria and has satellite campuses throughout South Africa.  

She is the co-founder and CEO of Brooklyn City College (BCC), a South African-based educational institute

‘I always come out on top, and that makes me a boss lady,’ she explains in the show’s trailer

Zari and Ivan have three sons together: Pinto, Raphael, and Quincy. They divorced in 2013 after she accused him of physically abusing her. He died in 2017 after suffering a massive stroke. 

The single mom shares her two youngest children — Latifah and Prince Nillan — with her ex, Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnumz, who also stars on the reality show. 

Zari, who has 10.2 million Instagram followers, has dubbed herself ‘Zari the Boss Lady’ — and for good reason. 

‘I always come out on top, and that makes me a boss lady,’ she explains in the show’s trailer. 

Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack is best known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz

The 32-year-old was born and raised in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, but unlike some of his wealthy co-stars, he didn’t come from money

Diamond Platnumz 

Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack, who is known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, is a bongo flava recording artist and businessman with more than 14 million Instagram followers. 

The 32-year-old was born and raised in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, but unlike some of his wealthy co-stars, he didn’t come from money. He worked odd jobs as a teenager to pay for his recording sessions. 

Diamond’s big break came when he released his breakthrough song ‘Kamwambi’ in 2010. The hit earned him three wins at the Tanzania Music Awards, and he released his debut album of the same name shortly after.  

In the decade that followed, he was nominated for best international act at the BET Awards three times. He also became the first sub-Saharan African artist to earn over one billion YouTube views in 2020, Billboard reported. 

Diamond’s big break came when he released his breakthrough song ‘Kamwambi’ in 2010. A decade later, he became the first sub-Saharan African artist to earn one billion YouTube views

Diamond has four children with three different women, including his Young, Famous & African co-star Zari 

Last year, he signed a 360 deal with Warner Music Group through his own recording label, WCB Wasafi. 

While he’s at the height of his career, the self-proclaimed ‘player’ isn’t ready to settle down — but that hasn’t stopped him from having kids. 

Diamond shares a daughter, Latifah, and son, Prince Nillan, with his socialite ex Zari Hassan, who also stars on Young, Famous & African. 

The father of four has a son Dylan with Tanzanian socialite Hamisa Mobetto, and a son Nasseeb Junior with Kenyan singer and model Tanasha Donna. 

‘I know myself, I’m a player,’ he admits in the upcoming reality show. 

Khanyi Mbau is a successful actress, television host, and businesswoman in South Africa

The 36-year-old shot to fame in 2004 when she scored a role on the popular South African soap opera Muvhango

Khanyi Mbau 

The 36-year-old, whose full name is Khanyisile Mbau, is a successful actress, television host, and businesswoman in South Africa. 

She was raised by her grandmother in Soweto, a township in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.

Khanyi shot to fame in 2004 when she replaced actress Lindiwe Chibi in the role of Doobsie on the popular South African soap opera Muvhango. She was later cast as Mbali on the second season of the soap opera Mzani. 

In 2012, she released her biography, ‘B***h, Please! I’m Khanyi Mbau,’ which was written by journalist Lesley Mofokena. Two years later, she started hosting her South African Film and Television Award-nominated talk show Katch It With Khanyi.  

Khanyi has had a number of hosting gigs and television appearances over the years, and she starred in her first feature film, ‘Happiness is a Four-Letter Word,’ in 2016.  

‘They call me the OG, and I’m just a winner in general,’ she boasts in the trailer

It’s already been a big year for Khanyi, who is steaming up the small screen in the second season of the Showmax series ‘The Wife’

Two years later, she entered the business world with the launch of her own line of gin, ‘I Am Khanyi — Millenial Shimmer Gin.’

It’s already been a big year for Khanyi, who is steaming up the small screen in the second season of the Showmax series ‘The Wife.’ She plays Zandile on the show, which is loosely based on the Hlomu book series by author Dudu Busani-Dube.  

Khani’s boyfriend — alleged Zimbabwean fugitive and millionaire Kudzai Terrence Mushonga — is believed to appear on Young, Famous & African with her.  

‘They call me the OG, and I’m just a winner in general,’ she boasts in the trailer. 

Annie Macaulay-Idibia appears on the reality show with her husband, Innocent ‘2Baba’ Idibia

The Nigerian musician, 46, goes by the stage name 2Baba. Prior to 2014, he was known as 2face Idibia

Annie Macaulay-Idibia and Innocent ‘2Baba’ Idibia

The Idibias are one of the show’s power couples, with each of them boasting more than seven million Instagram followers, but their relationship has seen plenty of ups and downs over the years.

Annie, 37, is a Nigerian model and actress, while Innocent, 46, is a Nigerian musician who goes by the stage name 2Baba. Prior to 2014, he was known as 2face Idibia. 

She was reportedly just 15 when she met her future husband at Even Ezra Music Studio. They started out as friends, but they were a couple by the time they shot the music video for his song ‘African Queen’ in 2004.  

Early on in their relationship, they broke up and got back together multiple times. He has seven children with three different women, including Annie.  

Innocent has two sons — Zion and Nino — with Sumbo Ajaba, whom he met when she was in college. He and makeup artist Pero Adeniyi have a daughter Ehibenzy and two sons — Innocent and Justin.   

The Nigerian model and actress, 37, was just 15 when she first met her husband 

Early on in their relationship, they broke up and got back together multiple times 

Innocent has seven children with three different women, including two daughters with Annie

Innocent and Annie each boast more than seven million Instagram followers

The musician also has two younger daughters — Isabella and Olivia — with Annie, whom he married in 2012. 

Last year, Annie publicly accused Innocent of staying with his ex Pero and their three children in the U.S. while he was shooting a music video. A few months later, she reportedly apologized in an Instagram post shared on her 37th birthday. 

‘The last 10 weeks have been the worst of my entire life. I have gone from being so angry to be broken and back to anger, then, sadly which I am ashamed to admit, suicidal. I allowed my emotions to lead me into making bad decisions. I allowed my anger and emotions to make me act on something that was not true because I was kept in the dark,’ she wrote. 

‘I want to apologise to my husband, Innocent. I am so sorry that I threw you out there like I did (it was so unwise). That is not the kind of woman you married. I am sorry for all the mental stress and heartbreak it caused you…’ 

Jeremiah Ogbodo, who is known as Swanky Jerry, is a Nigerian celebrity stylist

He was born in Lagos and rose to fame after launching his brand Swanky Signatures Styling in 2012

Jeremiah has worked with a number of Nigerian stars, including Tonto Dikeh, D’banj, Ice Prince, M.I, Juliet Ibrahim, and Davido

Jeremiah ‘Swanky Jerry’ Ogbodo 

The 30-year-old, who is known as Swanky Jerry, is a Nigerian celebrity stylist.

He was born in Lagos and rose to fame after launching his brand Swanky Signatures Styling in 2012. Two years later, he was named the ‘Fashion Stylist of the Year’ at the Lagos Fashion Awards. 

Jeremiah has worked with a number of Nigerian stars, including Tonto Dikeh, D’banj, Ice Prince, M.I, Juliet Ibrahim, and Davido. In 2020, he made Forbes Africa’s 30 under 30 list.  

One of his clients, Innocent ‘2Baba’ Idibia stars on the show with him, though it’s unclear if they are friends or their relationship is strictly business. 

Jeremiah has more than one million followers on Instagram, where he showcases his work, including his own designer outfits.  

Nadia Nakai got her first big break when she won the Mixtape 101 competition on the ETV show Shiz Niz 

The 31-year-old rapper and television personality has earned comparisons to Nicki Minaj 

Nadia Nakai  

The 31-year-old rapper and television personality was born in South Africa to a Zimbabwean father and a South African. Before she made it big, she majored in marketing, communication, and media studies at Monash University, Johannesburg. 

Nadia got her first big break when she won the Mixtape 101 competition on the ETV show Shiz Niz. She released her debut single, ‘Like Me,’ in 2013.  

She has earned comparisons to rapper Nicki Minaj, which she has come to appreciate, even though she doesn’t necessarily agree with them. 

In 2019, she released her debut album, ‘Nadia Naked.’ A documentary about the making of the album aired the following year on Showmax

Nadia has plenty of fans around the globe, including more than 2.4 million Instagram followers

‘When it comes to music, I used to get annoyed when people compare me to Nicki, but now I embrace it,’ she told Bona in 2015. ‘Nicki is an amazing artist! She is the best in her craft. She represents women in hip hop so well and if people feel I am doing the same thing in our South African market, then I’m okay with that comparison.’

In 2019, she released her debut album, ‘Nadia Naked.’ A documentary about the making of the album aired the following year on Showmax, an online subscription video-on-demand service in South Africa. 

Most recently, she was nominated for ‘Artist of the Decade’ at the 2021 South African Hip Hop Awards, and she has plenty of fans around the globe, including more than 2.4 million Instagram followers.  

Andile Ncube, 40, is a television personality and producer in South Africa

Andile got his start in entertainment in 2003 and is best known for hosting the Mzansi Friday night music show Live

He shares a daughter, Gabrielle, with model Rosette Mgomokotsi. He also has a one-year-old son with Sebabatso Mothibi, though it’s unclear if she will be appearing on the show with him

Andile Ncube 

The 40-year-old television personality and producer was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

He studied journalism at Technikon Pretoria and later enrolled in AFDA in Cape Town to study film and drama. 

Andile got his start in entertainment in 2003 and is best known for hosting the Mzansi Friday night music show Live.

He has had a number of hosting gigs over the years, including The Search: E! Host South Africa and The X Factor South Africa Season.  

The TV host was previously married to fellow television presenter Ayanda Thabethe, and he shares a daughter, Gabrielle, with model Rosette Mgomokotsi. 

He also has a one-year-old son with Sebabatso Mothibi, though it’s unclear if she will be appearing on the show with him. 

Quinton Masina, a radio personality and club DJ who is known as Naked DJ, appears on the show with his girlfriend Kayleigh, though there is not much known about her

While the show’s trailer labels her a ‘socialite,’ she is a human resources consultant, according to her LinkedIn profile

The show marks the former Metro FM DJ’s second foray into reality television. He appeared on the first season of The Real Housewives of Johannesburg with his then-wife Naledi Williams

Quinton ‘Naked DJ’ Masina and Kayleigh Schwark 

Quinton, a radio personality and club DJ who is known as Naked DJ, appears on the show with his girlfriend Kayleigh, though she remains somewhat of a mystery. 

While the show’s trailer labels her a ‘socialite,’ she is a human resources consultant, according to her LinkedIn profile. 

Not much is known about them as a couple, but this isn’t Quinton’s first time on reality television.

The former Metro FM DJ appeared on the first season of The Real Housewives of Johannesburg with his then-wife Naledi Williams in 2018.  

Quinton and Naledi had married in 2017 and divorced in 2019, a year after they appeared on the show together. His ex-wife died in December 2021 at age 30 following a battle with breast cancer. 

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