WATCH: Babes Wodumo bags reality TV show

Babes Wodumo is set to star in her own reality TV show. Picture: Shelley Kjonstad/ANA Pictures

Babes Wodumo is set to star in her own reality TV show. Picture: Shelley Kjonstad/ANA Pictures

Published Oct 15, 2017

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DURBAN - BABES Wodumo is sassy, trendy and fun, and she is about to add reality TV star to her accomplishments as an entertainer. The 23-year-old musician and dancer is getting her own reality TV show on DStv’s pay channel Mzansi Magic, channel 161. 

Known as the Qqom Queen for the exciting dance moves and nursery rhyme riddles she performs to fast-paced urban beats, the Durbanite is set to become the latest local pop star to hit the telly. 

Other prominent stars to have reality shows include Bonang Matheba, Somizi Mhlongo and Dineo Ranaka. 

Babes Wodumo is set to star in her own reality TV show. Picture: Shelley Kjonstad/ANA Pictures

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In an exclusive interview, Babes Wodumo, whose real name is Bongekile Simelane, revealed she will open up her home, tours, craziness and life experiences to the cameras. The one-season deal zooming into Babes’ life is thought to be worth R3 million, including appearance fees and production costs. It is expected to air in November. 

So what can fans expect? “To see that I am crazy and free-spirited,” she said.  “People close to me will tell you that I am a free spirit and that I don’t do what I do for the cameras, but this is who I am. It will be very entertaining.” 

WATCH: All you need to know about Babes upcoming TV show

Shooting is expected to begin on October 23 and later that week she will headline Cell C’s Wololo Tour in Mpumalanga. “Viewers will see that I am not fake,” Babes added.

She has a strong personality and a bold sense of humour, routinely cracking jokes mid-interview.

Babes Wodumo is set to star in her own reality TV show. Picture: Shelley Kjonstad/ANA Pictures

“The reality show will not be scripted. I want people to see how I prepare for performances. They will see me working on future projects like my hair brand, children’s home and they will also see me cooking,” she added.

No stranger to controversy and setting social media ablaze, Babes recently posted a video in search of her missing USB so she could delete the link to a song. 

Her video made no sense, but it did serve as a platform to market her then upcoming song Ganda Ganda, which was released soon after the drama. And before she was Babes Wodumo, the blunder-prone, trending superstar and entertainer was a naughty girl who changed high schools at least three times. 

“I didn’t smoke, I didn’t drink, I didn’t do that, but I was a nuisance in class. I made a noise and protested against tests and I would bunk school,” she said. 

Babes Wodumo is set to star in her own reality TV show. Picture: Shelley Kjonstad/ANA Pictures

After school she did small-time acting and modelling gigs and was a flyer girl, handing out flyers to promote the late gospel star Sifiso Ncwane’s music. But now Babes has much to celebrate, having recently been nominated for the MTV European Music Awards in the category of Best Africa Act. And last week, she won the award for Best Kwaito Artist award at the Dance Music Awards SA, which were hosted in Joburg.

One of her biggest blunders was when her management did not get her travel documents and visa in time for a planned trip to the US, where she had been nominated for an award in the BET Awards. History will not repeat itself, she vowed. 

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“I will definitely be attending the MTV awards. I have sorted out the visa. I am going,” she said. 

M-Net publicity manager Ryan van Heerden said they could not confirm anything at this stage, when pressed for comment about the show. 

Mandla “Mandla N” Ngcongwane, of Black Brain Pictures, said he was in talks with Babes’ management about the show, but also could not confirm anything yet. 

“We are in talks but it’s still at a premature stage. I can’t confirm anything,” he said.

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SUNDAY TRIBUNE

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