TV personality Bonang Matheba will host the launch of the anticipated Real Housewives of Lagos spin-off that is set to premiere on Friday.
Matheba, who has been in and out of Mzansi since her big move to the US last year, said agreeing to host the gala launch on Thursday night was a no brainer as someone who loves Nigeria and its culture.
“Number one, I am a Showmax girl, having my reality TV show housed there. But also I am a big fan of Lagos and its entertainment industry. I have a very big following there, some of my best friends live there, some of the people that I respect in fashion live there as well and as a pan-African girl, agreeing to host was a natural yes.
“I am a big fan of the Housewives, both the Durban and Joburg spin-offs, and I am excited about the Lagos leg that starts tomorrow. I have a personal relationship with a certain housewife there, Chioma Ikokwu of Chioma Good Hair and my best friend Toke Makinwa was the host of the Nigeria leg of the event. So, being here just felt like a wonderful way to see everybody and continue my pan-African reach while also introducing BNG [her luxury beverage brand] to the new market of Nigeria,” she said.
The theme is glitz, glam and everything fab, and Matheba says her outfits will be in honour of both SA and Nigeria.
“I will be wearing Gert-Johan Coetzee and another designer from Nigeria. And you know when you are housing guests, in this case being the Nigerian cast, you must pull out all the stops and that is why Showmax has asked the queen, me, to host,” she said laughing.
When asked what exactly her move to US entails, she reveals that she has been hard at work with her brand and business and will reveal everything soon.
“I think a lot of people have been trying to figure out why I left and what I am doing. If you watched A Very Bonang Year, you would know that living abroad has been something I have wanted to do as a dream of mine. As someone who has been in and out of New York for five-plus years now, I have been able to cultivate meaningful friendships there, so much so I am comfortable and have a small community in NY.
“I have also been able to meet and interact with some incredible business-minded people there, some investors, some mentors and I have learnt a lot and I am still going to learn so much more. There are some projects that are in the pipeline that I can’t reveal right now that I am very excited about. Also BNG, the movement of it and wanting to expand beyond Southern Africa is also a huge leap for me. Over the past three years I’ve slowly become a serious businesswoman because of my wine and it’s been such a huge success that I didn’t say it would be. I believe that if you want to know and be among the best in business, New York City is the place to be,” she said.
She also shares that though she is based in the US of late, SA remains the best country in her eyes.
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