Vusi Nova lays everything on the table
With his strong Xhosa roots, award-winning Nelson Mandela Bay musician Vusi Nova said it was finally time to tell his life story through his reality show, Vusi Nova Unprovoked.
Nova, 39, originally from New Brighton, said after much public curiosity and a demand for him to have his own reality show, he finally felt the time was right.
Season 1 of the show, comprising 13 episodes, premiered on SABC 1 on March 2.
The show, which airs every Saturday at 8pm, follows Nova through his different stages of life and how he juggles fame, family, his business ventures and spirituality. While not forgetting his music, Nova promised that his fans would see a different side to him.
“I was asked many times over the years to do something like this, but I wasn’t ready until now because I am an extremely private person.
“However, I feel everything happens at the right time, and I guess last year was that right time when I finally decided to do it. People have been so curious about my life and who I am offstage, so I just decided to let them in,” he said.
“It’s exciting, but at the same time opening up is extremely scary. People only know me on stage, so they are going to see a different side to me.”
He said he had viewed the first episode in Cape Town, and that he had been “scared” throughout. But he knew it was something he would have to get used to with plenty more episodes to come, and there was a sense of excitement.
The Afro-soul singer, with eight albums, two of which have gone double platinum, made his TV debut in April 2021 as a judge on Amazing Voices Season 2 . He also featured as a choirmaster on Clash of the Choirs SA last year.
Nova said Gqeberha held a special place in his heart as it was where his love for music had begun, going to church with his grandmother.
He said viewers could expect to see Gqeberha featured in the reality show.
“People can expect a lot of drama. Though many of these shows are scripted, that was the one thing I decided I was not going to do.
“I decided to put everything out there so people can get to know me better: my flaws, my good side, everything.”
The show took about four months to shoot, and saw him travel to Johannesburg, Gqeberha, East London and Durban.