The dating scene has a twist coming its way.
Just when we thought All You Need Is Love days were over and dating apps were taking over, another kind of advancement promises to sweep the messy mjolo streets.
Traditional and conventional ways of scoring a date with someone are heading out the window as a new reality show sets to stream on Showmax screens on 23 October.
For eight weeks, it’ll get steamy and butterfly moments will be witnesses from four bachelorettes who not only are looking for love but are committed to crossing South African borders for it.
And not just anywhere, but in Nigeria.
Bae Beyond Borders is a reality TV show that will be filled with romance, friendships, make-ups and heart-wrenching breakups.
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It all starts with speed dating 12 Nigerian bachelors, eight of which are collectively chosen by the bachelorettes to meet in Nigeria.
At the end of their pursuit, the women then bring home one Nigerian man to explore a full-blown relationship with.
Produced by Zinzi Velelo Alake who also found love beyond the South African, she says, “I am a South African woman who fell in love with a Nigerian man, and blending our cultures has been life-changing, I found my king!”
“The show was also created to unite Africans in love and to shine a light on a different kind of love that people usually do not get to see, and I am excited for people to see it," she adds.
For those in still pursuit, it has been a rollercoaster ride.
Ever since Nande Ramncwana moved to Johannesburg from Eastern Cape, she has been single with no prospects of a serious relationship.
Being a lover of love, the 24-year-old finally gave in to her friend’s suggestions to try out dating shows when she came across a Bae Beyond Borders call to action advert on social media.
“I came across the advert on social media, a friend of mine sent it to me and then she was like ‘friend, why don’t you apply for this?’. At the end of the day, I’m more into foreign guys than South African guys so [I thought] this is a great opportunity for me, maybe I’ll find people who are also looking for love like I am,” she tells Drum.
“Coming from the Eastern Cape, there’s no Nigerian guys mostly, you’re exposed to Xhosa guys so when I got to Joburg, I got to date from a different pool that I could date from so I felt like with Nigerians, that is what I like more; how they treat a women, how they take care of their women so I was like, honestly I think I like these guys and they like me back so why not?”
Sharing Nande’s sentiments, 31-year-old Malibongwe Gumede also says the treatment from Nigerian men is one that is top tier.
“I’ve been meeting a lot of crappy guys in SA, a lot of guys just don’t know what they want and when I saw [the show] being advertised, it seemed like a great opportunity to find a good guy. Maybe a guy who’s more serious than the ones that I’ve been with,” she says.
After broadening her horizons and stepping out of the country to find the love she knows she deserves, Malibongwe shares with Drum that she is not looking back on her decision to explore the Nigerian dating scene.
“I prefer Nigerian men to any other men in this world, that’s just what I like. I love my Nigerian men. I have dated a couple of them and when I have to compare them to the South African guys, the treatment is different. Nigerian guys go all out, they fend, they are money spenders, they’re not going to first start complain or ask questions like ‘what do you want the money for?’, it’s all about the vibes, everything is just flowing. It’s not complicated with Nigerian guys,” says the singleton from Midrand.
Malibongwe has even relocated to Nigeria where she has taken her career in media to another level. The radio producer and former Vuma FM radio presenter is shooting skits at the moment and is focused on hosting red carpet events.
As for 34-year-old Zezethu Mniki, dating foreign guys is nothing new.
“A friend of mine at work made me aware of the show because she knows my history with dating foreign guys. That’s why I applied for the show, I thought it would be something fun and that I’ll meet someone.”
Judging from her experience, the architect did not hesitate to roll the dice on her love life and join the reality show.
“The Nigerian guys that I’ve dated in the past and the ones I’ve met, what I really like about them is that they’re not so westernized, they still believe in traditional ways. They know that they need to provide for a woman, they take their role as men, they are just natural providers, they’re successful, they know how to spoil a woman. They treat a woman like queens or princesses.”
“They are more masculine, not in terms of body but in terms of their alpha-male energy,” she adds.
Being the introverted and busy bee that Vuvu Maseti is, there is not enough time in the day to commit to dating and meeting new people in the conventional ways.
Coming to her rescue, Bae Beyond Borders gave her just the platform to have her shot at love.
“I wanted to give myself a challenge. I wanted to try something I hadn’t done before. It seemed like a beautiful and perfect opportunity to meet the right person.”
The 31-year-old make-up artist from Cape Town says that it was interesting to also come of her shell and meet people from different walks of life in Nigeria.
Although she has dated European outside of the South African dating pool, she had not dated Nigerian men before the show.
“What I have been exposed to of Nigerian men in Cape Town specifically is completely different to what I experienced in Nigeria. They are very great guys, hardworking guys, respectful guys and not flashy guys.”
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Speaking to Drum about the “gold-digging” reception that the show’s announcement got on social media, she chuckles and says, “they must watch the show and see if there’s gold to dig there”.
“We have our own gold; people need to stop assuming that women go on [dating shows] to find gold.”
Given the booming beauty industry in Nigeria, Vuvu is considering moving to the West African country herself to establish her make-up business and hopefully live happily ever after with her Nigerian prince charming.
