South Africa’s vibrant culture and diverse population have given rise to a thriving reality TV scene. Here is a look at four reality shows that have gained attention and popularity among South African audiences.
A glimpse into infamous shebeens in Soweto
Shebeen Queens is a reality show about the unshakeable women behind popular and infamous Soweto shebeens – Alina’s Place, Big Mama’s Tavern, and Rama Tavern. The show is about the lives of three self-made female entrepreneurs: Alina Sishange, Big Mama, and Xoliswa Shwayimba.
Follow three Cape Flats undertakers
Die Ondernemers is an Afrikaans series that follows the life and routines of three Cape Flats undertakers who met each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, they formed a WhatsApp group to provide assistance and support during the highly stressful period and remained friends since then.
For most people, death is the end, but for these undertakers, it is the start of their work week.
Lives of Cape Town drag queens
From The Mommy Club creators POP24, Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap is a reality TV show about Cape Town’s drag queens, including Manila von Teez, Ina Propriette, Maxine Wild, Kat Gilardi, Emogan Moore, BB Vahlour, and Madison Scarr. The stories are told in Gayle but it has subtitles.
What is Gayle?
Gayle is a ‘language’ that emerged primarily from the white and coloured gay male populations of Cape Town during the apartheid years when being gay and cross-dressing were illegal. Its original function was to give gay men a language of secrecy and to have an in-group language of belonging.
Examples of Gayle words are ‘beaulah’ meaning beautiful and ‘hilda’ which means hideous. The Gayle word ‘nellie’ means nervous and ‘moegabe’/’Mugabe’ means tired (from the Afrikaans word moeg).
TV show reveals relationships between domestic workers and employers
Markedly, a first of its kind, Abo Auntie is a series highlighting the relationships between domestic workers and their employers.
“Often people find themselves in conflict because of misunderstandings. Abo Auntie seeks to highlight issues that often cause rifts in the household between the employer and the helper.”
Abo Auntie‘s executive producer, Shoki Langa
Some people have criticised the show for a negative portrayal of domestic workers, while others are shocked at how some employers treat their domestic workers.
Have you watched any of these TV shows?
Are there other South African reality shows that you would recommend?
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