Season 1
African Dreams is a South African mockumentary television series which revolves around African Dreams, a young wedding planning company in competition to win their biggest client yet – Lalla Hirayama.
Between the company's OCD co-founder, the perpetually late marketing manager, a skateboarding obsessed CFO, a herb-friendly pre-marital counsellor and a self-obsessed intern, do they have what it takes to walk down the aisle or will they get cold feet?
The series follows two wedding planning companies: African Dreams, a smaller but passionate black-owned company; and the successful, well-established and ultra-elegant Eleganté Wedding Emporium, as they are pitted against one another in a wedding reality competition.
This is a story of the underdog, set in Maboneng, Johannesburg.
It offers a fly-on-the-wall look into the everyday struggles of Thandeka Dlamini and her entrepreneurial team at African Dreams, an up-and-coming wedding planning company.
The team's desire to be the top wedding planners in South Africa is put to the test as a high-profile celebrity has placed them in the final stages of her wedding planning competition.
However, the team's complicated and colourful personal lives may see them lose it all.
We are introduced to the characters such as Thandeka, a natural caregiver; Mosa, a black diamond heiress; Bongani, a down to Earth-conscious economist; Delores, a polyamorous, bisexual bike riding pre-marriage counsellor; Thabang, an intern turned self-appointed concierge at African Dreams; Melisizwe, a catch in every sense of the word; and Jana, a woke type who can't stand #AllLivesMatter arguments.
In the series premiere: It's the big day for African Dreams, when they find out if they will be one of the two finalists in Lalla's Wedding Reality Competition.
Perfectionist and company CEO, Thandeka, struggles to keep her team together - on the one end is her co-founder, Mosa, who can never be on time or keep away from a mimosa.
On the other end is her brother, Bongani, who is nothing like the serious CFO she needs him to be.
Add to that the very 'green' pre-marital counsellor, Delores, and the Internet breaking-obsessed intern, Thabang, and African Dreams are looking slim.
BusaBuntu as Thandeka, Tiisetso Sefatsa as Mosa, Thabo Malema as Bongani, Ilse Klink as Delores, Tshiamo Modisane as Thabang, Lalla Hirayama as Lalla, Craig Jackson as David, Tarina Patel as Priyanka and Thobile Kubheka as Buhle.
African Dreams was created and produced by series star Nobuntu 'BusaBuntu' Dubazana with her production company BusaBuntu Pictures, mentored by Quizzical Pictures.
The series director is Sihle Hlophe. The head writer is Nonzi Bogatsu with a story team including BusaBuntu, Zolisa Sigwanda and Muzi Mthembu.
The composer is Anthony 'Luka' Kasirivu.
Broadcast Notes
African Dreams was originally scheduled to premiere on SABC1 on Sunday 31 October, 2021, at 19h30.
The week before, however, the channel had "technical problems" which prevented the finale of Hush Money being aired on 24 October as scheduled, so that was moved a week later and aired on 31 October.
The African Dreams premiere was then scheduled for Sunday 7 November at 19h30, but the channel aired Episode 2 instead of the series premiere. No explanation was offered for this error.
To make up for this, the first two episodes were scheduled for a double bill on Sunday 14 November, at 19h30.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Nobuntu Dubazana ... Thandeka (as BusaBuntu)
Tiisetso Sefatsa ... Mosa
Thabo Malema ... Bongani
Ilse Klink ... Delores
Tshiamo Modisane ... Thabang
Lalla Hirayama ... Lalla
Craig Jackson ... David
Tarina Patel ... Priyanka
Thobile Kubheka ... Buhle
Recurring / Guests
Ashleigh van der Hoven ... Jana
Zolani Shangase ... Malisizwe
Musa Motha ... Lalla Male Dancer
Jose Mahel ... Delivery Person
Brian Makhubela ... Ayanda Hlophe
Jacolien van der Berg ... Yolandi van Zyl (as Jacolien vd Berg)
Tsepo Desando ... Tshepo Mokoena
Maipato Morake ... Fashion Designer
Sophie Ndaba ... Refiloe Mokoena
Nia Brown ... Rea
Ashleigh Butcher ... Esme
Julia Kiggell ... Poolside Lady (as Julia Kiggel)
Tshego Mzizi ... Poolside Lady
Jason Willemse ... Devante Willemse
Tamara Dey ... Herself
Macmillan Mabaleka ... Siphiwe
Nia Brown ... Rea
Sipho Buhali ... Eleganté Staff
Chael van Heerden ... Eleganté Staff
Amelia Stewart ... Lorentia
Jerome du Plooy ... Tyson
Fisiwe Kubheka ... Cebi Mlotsa
Kagiso Ragosa ... Jabu Hlophe
Yolandi van Zyl ... Mother of the Bride
Bronwyn Davis ... Barbara van Zyl
Thaso Zulu ... Khanyisa Buthelezi
Petra Christie ... Aunt Jane
Bayanda Khathini ... Designer
Mihlali Ntanjana ... Eleganté Staff
Zukhanye Mtebele ... Delivery Person
Monica Ngobeni ... Mrs Buthelezi
Jack Leventhorpe ... Stu
Rosette Ncwana ... Panelist
Refiloe Molakeng ... Panelist
Johan Eyssen ... Lalla's Dad