| Genre: | Reality television |
| Executive Producer: | Zinzi Velelo Alake |
| Camera: | Multiple |
| Num Seasons: | 1 |
| Num Episodes: | 9 |
| Company: | POP24 |
| Network: | Showmax |
Bae Beyond Borders is an African reality television series, produced by POP24 for Showmax. The show revolves around 4 single South African women, looking for love beyond the borders of South Africa in search of partner among 12 bachelors from Nigeria.[1] Nokuthula Mashaba served as the co-director of the reality show, with Zinzi Velelo Alake who also serves as the executive producer.
| Name | Real Name | Age | Occupation | Country | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeze | Zezethu Mniki | 31 | Architect |  South Africa | Single | |
| Zezethu Mniki is from Johannesburg, from a broken home, with an abusive father. She describes herself as an introvert. She says “I am a reserved person, but I am also outgoing. I love to dress up and do my makeup and go out and have fun. I love people; I love being around people. I love nature and animals and often enjoy outdoor activities. I also enjoy going to new places and interacting with people of different cultures.” | ||||||
| Nande | Nande Ramncwana | 24 | Single | |||
| Nande Ramcwana is from the Eastern Cape and holds a diploma in Local Government Finance and an advanced diploma in Public Management. “Entering this show changed my life for the better,” she says. “There were so many invaluable lessons I got to learn about myself. I am going to use these lessons in my everyday life.” | ||||||
| Mali | Malibongwe Gumede | 31 | Single | |||
| Malibongwe Gumede is from Midrand, and describes herself as a strong and dynamic woman. In her words, she says “I love shopping, traveling, and going out with friends to eat some good food,” and further says, “Sometimes I can be an introvert and keep to myself.” | ||||||
| Vuvu | Vuvu Maseti | 30 | Make-up artist | Single | ||
| Vuvu Maseti is from Johannesburg, and describes herself as a proudly South African girl who was raised in Manchester, England. In her words, she says “I love to socialise; I like to think of myself as an introverted-extrovert but I’m the life of the party (according to my friends). I’m attracted to intelligent, good-looking, tall men. I love the arts and being able to express my creativity through my makeup work.”[2] | ||||||
| Eric | Eric Oshiokhai Akhigbe | 27 | Single | |||
| Eric Oshiokhai Akhigbe is from Edo State. In his words, he says “I am willing to put myself out there finally. In a relationship, you have to constantly choose your partner, during your ups and downs that's the commitment, actually, and am all about that.” | ||||||
| Luciano | Luciano Okere | 32 | Divorced | |||
| Luciano Okere is from Lagos. In his words, he says “I am interested in getting to know South African women to see how dating outside of Nigeria is,”. He further says “I am big on love and exploring different cultures, so when this opportunity came about, I grabbed it with both hands. I am ready for my South African queen.” | ||||||
| Chidubem | Chidubem Okeke | 31 | Software developer | Single | ||
| Chidubem Okeke who has visited South Africa, and his older brother is married to a South African woman. In his words, he says “I have seen the beautiful love my brother and his wife share, and it inspires me to seek a similar connection for myself.” | ||||||
| Kingsley | Kingsley Okparaebube Ndubuisi | 34 | Single | |||
| Kingsley Okparaebube Ndubuisi from Imo State. In his words, he says “South African women are very beautiful; I like how they dance, how they move and how they look.” Kingsley also has relatives who are married to South African women. From what they have shared with him, he is very interested in finding one for himself. “I heard that South African women are good to build with and that they bring peace.” | ||||||
| Joshua | Joshua Richard | 26 | Single | |||
| In his words, he says “I'm Igbo, my native name is Ifeanyi, which I believe means "God is my straight", I don't speak my native language.” | ||||||
| Peejay | Edozie Peter Chigozie | 31 | Musician | Single | ||
| In his words, he says “What will make me fall in love is someone who would choose to be with me whether I mess up or I don't. You don't find the perfect woman. You find someone who perfects you.” | ||||||
| Daniel C. | Daniel Christian | 27 | Single | |||
| Daniel Christian is from Anambra State. In his words, he says “A perfect relationship for me, has to be a calm woman. You can't be with a Nigerian man and be pompous. It won't work, you have to be patient and industrious, Yes we're not going broke, have to work hard together, side by side. Of course, I will be the major captain, then you can be the co-captain. That kind of thing.” Further, he says “Before I get into a relationship with you, I have to know how your family is. I have to see the structure of your family. It's very important because if her family is messed up, that woman is 100% a mess.” | ||||||
| Amazn | Promise Amazing | 32 | Single | |||
| Promise Amazing is from Enugu State. In his words, he says “I am single because I want to be sure of what I want; I want to settle down. So basically get someone who is sure of what she's doing. I love it when a woman is caring, kind, compassionate, and a go-getter. I enjoy a woman who knows what she wants. A hardworking woman. A woman who can actually balance her emotions. I like a woman with a good sense of humor.” | ||||||
| Franklyn | Franklyn Chikezie | 23 | Model |  Nigeria | Single | |
| Daniel | Daniel Emuan Osaro | 26 | Fitness trainer | Nigeria | Single | |
| Daniel Emuan Osaro is from Benin, the capital and largest city of Edo State. In his words, he says “I like very natural girls, like physical speaking, with the figure 8.” | ||||||
| Babatunde | Babatunde | 28 | Musician | Nigeria | Single | |
| Jazzy | Odudu Otu | 24 | Nigeria | Single | ||
| Odudu Otu from Akwa Ibom, where he was born and raised with his two younger brothers and parents. In search of greener pastures, he relocated to Abuja at the age of 20. | ||||||
Unconfirmed Perfect Match
| Couple | Episode | Result | Twelve Boy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nowrap | Zezethu & Kingsley | 2 | nowrap | Not A Match | Not A Match |
| Zezethu & Peejay | 3 | Perfect Match | Not A Match | ||
| nowrap | Vuvu & Daniel C. | 4 | nowrap | Not A Match | Not A Match |
| Nande & Daniel C. | 4 | Perfect Match | Not A Match | ||
| Vuvu & Luciano | 4 | Not A Match | Not A Match | ||
| Mali & Daniel C. | 5 | Not A Match | Not A Match | ||
| Nande & Chidubem | 6 | Not A Match | Not A Match | ||
| Mali & Luciano | 6 | Perfect Match | Not A Match | ||
| Mali & Promise | 6 | Not A Match | Not A Match | ||
| Vuvu & Joshua | 6 | Not A Match | Not A Match | ||
| Vuvu & Eric | 6 | Not A Match | Not A Match | ||
| Vuvu & Chidubem | 6 | Perfect Match | Not A Match | ||
| Mali & Luciano | 7 | Unmatched | Amazn | ||
| Mali & Amazn | 8 | Perfect Match | Not A Match |
The main events in the Bae Beyond Borders villa are summarised in the table below.
| Week 1 | Online Date |
| |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrances |
| ||
| Exits |
| ||
| Week 2 | Entrances |
| |
| Hang Out |
| ||
| Week 3 | Date |
| |
| Week 4 | Hang Out |
| |
| Week 5 | Date |
| |
| Week 6 | Exits |
| |
| Date |
| ||
| Week 7 | Travel |
| |
| Entrances |
| ||
| Hang Out |
| ||
| Exits |
| ||
| Week 8 | Date |
| |
| Entrances |
| ||
| Week 9 | Hang Out |
|
| Episode 1 Top 8[3] | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chidubem Okeke | Saved | No Nominations | Perfect Match Day 11 | No Nominations | |||||||
| Edozie Peter Chigozie | Saved | No Nominations | Perfect Match Day 11 | No Nominations | |||||||
| Daniel Christain | Saved | No Nominations | Perfect Match Day 11 | No Nominations | |||||||
| Luciano Okere | Saved | No Nominations | Perfect Match Day 11 | Unmatched and Dumped Day 15 | |||||||
| Promise Amazing | Saved | No Nominations | Dumped Day 11 | Nominated Day 15 | |||||||
| Kingsley Okparaebube Ndubuisi | Saved | No Nominations | Dumped Day 11 | ||||||||
| Joshua Richard | Saved | No Nominations | Dumped Day 11 | ||||||||
| Eric Oshiokhai Akhigbe | Saved | No Nominations | Dumped Day 11 | ||||||||
| Franklyn Chikezie | Dumped Day 3 | ||||||||||
| Daniel Emuan Osaro | Dumped Day 3 | ||||||||||
| Jazzy | Dumped Day 3 | ||||||||||
| Babatunde | Dumped Day 3 | ||||||||||
Perfect Match
Unmatched and Dumped
Saved
Nominated
No Nominations
Dumped
The reality television series is executively produced by Zinzi Velelo Alake.[4] On 9 October 2023, Showmax Stories shared a hint about the series and introduced its cast with its official trailer,[5] unveiling Zezethu Mniki, Nande Ramncwana, Malibongwe Gumede, and Vuvu Maseti as the main cast of season 1,[6] to be supported by Eric Oshiokhai Akhigbe, Luciano Okere, Chidubem Okeke, Kingsley Okparaebube Ndubuisi, Joshua Richard, Peejay Edozie, Daniel Christain, AMAZN, Franklyn, Daniel, Babatunde, and Jazzy.
On 12 October 2023, Bae Beyond Borders became controversial as Showmax and DSTV channel Honey was dragged by Nombuso Thobejane and her business partner Kwaile Lebopo, after Bae Beyond Borders trailer went viral. Nombuso and Kwaile said in the viral video “We had pitched the idea to Honey on 29 May this year under the name Loving Beyond Borders.”[7] They further said how Showmax and Honey rejected the proposal for the show, asking them to: “Hold off until next year as they were not commissioning at that time and noted that they would be launching a dating format later this year.” However, Honey channel head Izelle Venter; debunked the claims labelled against them.[8]