After debuting on Netflix just a few days ago, a new reality series has already squeezed its way onto the streamer’s Top 10 chart for the US. It’s the 7-episode Young, Famous & African. A show about 1-percenters on the African continent that more or less repurposes the same voyeuristic formula attached to other such series that similarly glamorize the famous and the super-wealthy. The kind of TV we hate and love in equal measure.
It’s the kind of show that also takes us along for the ride, keeping us entertained but also envious of everyone’s wealth, luxuries, status, and privilege along the way. “This is Sandton, Johannesburg,” one of the cast members says during the show. “The richest square mile in Africa … Not one person here is a weak biatch.” With shade and sass like that, is this a show worth checking out? We’ll tell you everything you need to know below.
Where can I watch Young, Famous and African?
Firstly, this is a Netflix-exclusive series that debuted on the streamer on Friday, March 18. And for now, there’s only one season on the platform.
As far as what else to know about the series? Here’s how Netflix summarizes it. “This glitzy reality series, aka a real-life soap opera,” Netflix explains about the new show, “follows a group of young, affluent, and famous A-list media personalities. Hailing from South Africa, Nigeria, and East Africa, this aspirational who’s who of music, media, fashion, and Insta stars comes together in ‘JoBurg.’
All friends and connected, they are on a quest to find love, rekindle old flames, (and) reboot struggling relationships as they continue to shine bright.”
As of Tuesday, March 22, the show is currently the #9 show on Netflix for the US market. Unfortunately, there’s no word about a season two pick-up just yet. That news will inevitably follow as a consequence of whether or not the show continues to do well over the next few weeks.
Young, Famous and African trailer
Also, if you haven’t seen the trailer yet, you can check it out below.
“There’s something to be said for wealth porn like this,” a Decider review notes. “It’s fun to escape into these worlds, watching people drink champagne that costs more than my rent and engage in petty, occasionally high school-level drama.” Bottom line? The show is “sexy and silly and soapy” — pretty much the magic formula for reality TV gold.
Netflix reality shows
Below, meanwhile, are some of the other Netflix reality shows that are doing well on the streamer at the moment. These, in fact, are some of the series from the “Popular on Netflix” category on the streamer’s Reality Shows page. And we’ll start with the series that’s the #1 show on Netflix in the US right now. It’s a game show about cake, and it’s pretty much taking the streamer by storm:
- Is it Cake?: Skilled cake artists create mouthwatering replicas of handbags, sewing machines and more in a mind-bending baking contest inspired by a popular meme.
- Love is Blind: Nick and Vanessa Lachey host this social experiment where single men and women look for love and get engaged. All before meeting in person.
- The Parisian Agency — Exclusive Properties: This reality series follows the Kretz family and their luxury property business. As they help clients buy and sell fabulous homes in France and abroad.
- Selling Sunset: The elite agents at The Oppenheim Group sell the luxe life to affluent buyers in LA. Relationships are everything, and that often means major drama.
More Netflix coverage: For more Netflix news, check out our coverage of the latest new Netflix movies and series to watch.
