Zonia Michaud
Kenyans have, in recent years, been slowly but steadily embracing locally produced reality TV shows Some of the popular shows in the country include The Real Housewives of Nairobi, Being Bahati and Kyallo Kulture TUKO.co.ke spoke to the Nairobi-based producer behind these reality TV shows in an exclusive interview Reality TV has become a staple in popular culture worldwide, and Nairobi is no exception.
Eugene Mbugua is the producer behind some popular Kenyan reality TV shows, including the Real Housewives of Nairobi. Photo: Kirsten Kanja.
Source: Original From the early 2000s, when CBS’s ‘Survivor’ premiered, to the revolutionary ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’, the impact of the TV genre has been unquestionable.
Kenya adjusted to the wave slowly, but steadily, with its own homegrown versions of early unscripted shows like ‘Omo Pick A Box’ which aired in the 90s.
Who produced The Real Housewives of Nairobi? Today, one prominent film producer, Eugene Mbugua, is revolutionising the space, actively propelling the quality, standards and range of the genre in the country.
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His Nairobi-based D&R Studios are behind shows that have shifted the way audiences look at Kenyan reality TV.
When Kenyans on the internet became aware of the ongoing production of The Real Housewives of Nairobi (RHON) in 2022, they immediately assumed it would be an embarrassing spectacle.
But what followed was one of the biggest reality TV success stories that has been witnessed in the country to date.
Not only was the show glamorous, captivating and impeccably produced, but it met and surpassed the expectations of critics.
Who featured in Real Housewives of Nairobi? The Season 1 Cast featured socialites Vera Sidika and Sonal Maherali, actress Minne Kariuki, beauty entrepreneur Susan Kaittany and more.
The show broke streaming records on its first week on Showmax for the most first-day views on the platform.
It was fittingly named the Best TV Show at the 2024 Kalasha Awards, one of the biggest fetes in Kenya’s film and TV industry.
“Real Housewives is an international franchise. It has been done and succeeded in many places before. And that’s the beauty of tried and tested concepts,” Mbugua told TUKO.co.ke in an exclusive interview. “It’s a franchise that’s owned by NBC Universal and Bravo, and has done very well in many markets in the USA, Europe, and even Dubai. So when it came to South Africa, it started in Johannesburg and did well, Cape Town, and then it went to Nigeria and then finally Kenya,” he added. Mbugua has produced several popular Kenyan reality TV shows. Photo: Kirsten Kanja.
Source: Original The format wasn’t the only thing to consider in the making of RHON, it also had to be well-produced.
Mbugua said that he and his team put in a lot of work, upskilling and going through rigorous training before embarking on the show.
“The team outdid itself,” he noted. The show has been reviewed by publications like GQ South Africa and Variety, a testament to the fact that RHON successfully piqued the interest of viewers globally and highlighted the sights, sounds and luxurious side that Nairobi offers.
The dramatic side, too, if you sprinkle in the fiery exchanges, subtle “shade”, and catty moments on the program.
How real are Kenyan reality TV shows? The question of how much is real and how much is scripted on such shows often comes up.
Observers argue that the most entertaining parts of reality TV are scripted, but Mbugua notes that it is not always the case.
“I can only speak about our shows, because, as a fact, some reality shows are scripted. Ours are not,” the producer noted. “However, it’s very important to note that they are directed and they are edited. What this means is that by the time we start on a reality show, we already map out what the story lines for each person are,” he added. He explained the concept of directing as one where the production team understands what is going on in the cast’s lives and decides which storylines to highlight.
Editing, on the other hand, cuts out any unnecessary footage for a tight, easy-to-follow show.
“For example, if you have a new business that you are setting up, a relationship that’s maybe in trouble, we know we are going to pursue that. So, we do direct you on which story lines you want to pursue,” Mbugua noted. “Usually, a person’s life is not as interesting as you might think. If I follow you around for 10 hours, there is only going to be maybe 20 minutes of interesting stuff. We will only keep that 20 minutes of the interaction. It’s not a full picture of the full day, but we’ve picked the bits that are most intriguing and interesting for an audience,” he added. Which TV shows has Eugene Mbugua produced? Mbugua’s portfolio includes shows like Being Bahati, Kyallo Kulture, Dating After 40, Foods of Kenya, Our Perfect Wedding and more.
Being Bahati capitalised on the growing fame and influence of singer Kevin Bahati and his wife, content creator Diana Marua.
The show created a buzz and paved the way for The Bahati’s Empire, a hugely successful Netflix series about the pair and their love story.
Mbugua produced the popular ‘Being Bahati’ show. Photo: Kirsten Kanja.
Source: Original This is yet another instance of a time the producer pushed Nairobi stories to global viewers and platforms.
He said that cast selection follows two guidelines.
“The first secret to good cast selection is that they must be big characters, exhibitionists- people who actually want to be seen and be on a show. The second bit about it is their ability to open up. The thing that makes you connect with characters is being able to see all their sides in a vulnerable way. Anybody who is trying to put up a front or is too guarded or is acting like someone they are not, the audience is usually able to pick up on this very quickly,” he explained. What inspires Kenyan reality TV ideas? Show ideas are often inspired by popular culture.
The producer noted that shows like Sauti Sol’s Sol Family and Kyallo Kulture were not only relevant but driven by the popularity of the characters.
Other programs, like Foods of Kenya and Dating After 40, are informed by Mbugua’s own experiences and interests.
His current projects include Roast House Season 2, and this month, the D&R team is gearing up to release the “roast” of fashion designer Bolo Bespoke and his wife, Miss Mueni.
How did Ms Bune venture into deejaying? Previously, TUKO.co.ke spoke to Nairobi-based Ethiopian disc jockey, Ms Bune, who opened up about how she found herself in the Kenyan music industry.
The 23-year-old was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but relocated to Nairobi while 16 years old with her mother.
Today, she considers herself more Kenyanised than ever before.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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