Television Personality and Host, Bonang Matheba, is easily one of the most recognisable faces on TV in South Africa.
Though her she started her career in Entertainment in 2002, when the fifteen-year-old landed a gig as a presenter on Manhattan’s Fantasy Challenge on SABC 2, her big break came in 2007, when she got a job as the new presenter for Live on SABC 1, with Tbo Touch and Andile Ncube. Before long, she became one of the most in demand South African televisions host.
She has hosted shows such as SABC 3’s Top Billing, Afternoon Express and the Metro FM’s The Front Row. She has also starred on the Afternoon Express with Danilo Acquisto, Jeannie D and Bonnie Mbuli. She has also become a prolific brand ambassador, having represented popular brands such as Revlon, Distraction, Ciroc, Peugeot, Ipanema, Legit Edcon, Brutal Fruit, BIC Razors and Diva Divine Hair. Yet, the delectable show host is not done with her exploits.
She was recently announced to be joining the cast of hit Netflix reality series, Young, Famous and African for its second season.
Reminiscing on her 13-year media career, Bonang said, “what has happened over the past 13 years has been the cornerstone of where and how I built my career and brand. Through my book, From A to B, I have been able to capture all these moments in their realest and purest form. Heartache, heartbreak, good moments, bad moments love and affection, you name it; it’s so well documented in my book. It’s my pleasure to be able to share my story in the hopes of being able to change even if it’s one person’s life and give them hope,” she said.
Though many tend to compare the Nigerian entertainment industry with that of South Africa, Bonang thinks otherwise. To her, the two are completely different markets.
According to Bonang, the stark difference in population of Nigeria’s to South Africa’s, allows for a broader range of music genres in Nigeria.
When it comes to South Africa, “I would have to say, our industry is far much kinder to our female counterparts and the industry genuinely celebrates them and allows them to shine. This is more progressive and probably where I feel Nigeria can do a bit more in terms of dialing this up. This is an area from observation that can be more elevated,” she said.
In 2019, Bonang won the coveted Award for Best Inspiration & Influence at the prestigious Global Social Awards held in Prague, Czech Republic while; she also won Africa Influencer of the Year at the first ever E! Entertainment People’s Choice Awards, held in Los Angeles, California. The beginning of 2020 saw Bonang being dubbed one of Forbes’ 50 Most Powerful Women in Africa, also gracing the cover of the Forbes Women Africa March issue.
Bonang is a prominent ambassador for Global Citizen and also heads up the Bonang Matheba Bursary Fund which aims to put 300 girls through tertiary education by 2025.
This article was culled from The Guardian Nigeria
