Peace Hyde is no stranger to breaking boundaries in African entertainment, and GQ South Africa is giving her flowers. The magazine’s February cover dives into her journey, one that has seen her reshape unscripted television, tell powerful African stories, and create shows that keep audiences hooked.
For nearly a decade, Peace Hyde has been behind some of the most talked-about shows on the continent. She launched Forbes Africa’s TV platform, bringing us “My Worst Day” and “Against All Odds,” where she sat down with Africa’s business giants like Aliko Dangote, FolorunsoAlakija, and CosmasMaduka to talk about their biggest failures.
Her storytelling doesn’t stop at business. Peace Hyde’s investigative documentary, “Inside Nigeria’s Push to End Police Brutality,” aired on Vice News and picked up four international film festival awards, including wins at the Los Angeles Film Festival and the UK Top Shorts Awards.
Then came “Young, Famous & African,” the Netflix reality series. The show’s first two seasons topped charts and the latest season is currently dominating screens across Africa. The series even bagged the Best Structured Reality Soapie award at the 2024 South African Film and Television Awards.
In her GQ South Africa interview, Peace Hyde talks about the future of African entertainment, her career as an award-winning journalist, how she’s redefining what unscripted television looks like, and finding purpose in philanthropy.
Here are some excerpts from the interview:
GQ: With Young, Famous and African, you revolutionised African TV from the perspective of dispelling the old held beliefs about the continent. How do you feel Africa’s perception is changing since launching the first season?
Peace Hyde: I think the success of the show has had quite a significant impact on the global perception of Africa. This project is compelling for me for a number of reasons. I was born and raised by a Ghanaian mother in the UK at a time when it was not cool to be African.
I remember people getting teased in school about the way they spoke or about how dark their skin colour was and even when I began my career as a science teacher years later, where I taught chemistry, physics and biology to high school students, this trend was still prevalent. I am talking about just a decade ago, before I relocated to Ghana.
I believe in the power of storytelling. I believe that it has the ability to not only entertain but also dispel notions that we have held on to for years. I remember being in Los Angeles and having a conversation with an African American friend of mine who had never been to the African continent and she asked me if we had roads? That stayed with me and I think it was the catalyst that sparked YFA.
GQ: What do you say about the negative comments about the shows drama and propelling negative stereotypes about Africa
PH: I read a comment that said the show is a wrong depiction of Africa because we have so many people who do not live like the cast members so why do we not show a balanced view? As a continent our stories have been written for us by others for years, and it has been told through the eyes of people who are predisposed to only see one part of the narrative – the ugly side.
Our goal is to embrace what makes us unique but also celebrate the stories of aspirational upwardly mobile Africans who have made it out the mud.
Chairman of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, had applauded governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma for not taking the risk of naming…
Detectives have charged an alleged coordinator of a contract killing after uncovering what they claim was a murder plot in December last year. NSW Police…
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-person-sits-in-front-of-a-waterfall-right-a-beach-in-anticosti-island-quebec.jpg?id=59811156&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C29%2C0%2C30"/><br/><br/><p>Nicknamed "la belle province," Quebec has no shortage of <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/quebec-road-trips" target="_blank">enchanting road trip destinations</a>. From the towering peaks of Mont-Tremblant to the cliffs of Gaspé, and the cobblestone charm of Montreal and Quebec City, the province is a <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/14-breathtaking-quebec-national-parks-you-can-road-trip-to-this-summer#rebelltitem11" target="_blank">playground for nature lovers</a> and culture seekers alike.</p><p>But tucked away in the Côte‑Nord, L'île d'Anticosti is a lesser-known gem that feels like its own little world — or rather, a massive one. It's Quebec's largest island, and arguably one of its most magical.</p><p>Here are just a few elements that make this place worthy of a spot on your bucket list. </p><h3>Incredible views</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWd1hfVL-l1/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWd1hfVL-l1/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Anticosti's scenery will stop you in your tracks. The 7,943 square-kilometre island is absolutely massive — even bigger than Prince Edward Island — but with only a few hundred residents, most of it feels wild, wide open, and untouched. </p><p>From the soaring limestone cliffs along the north shore to hidden emerald-green rivers that wind through dense forest, Anticosti is a dream for anyone who loves raw, dramatic landscapes.</p><p>You can soak in the views at Pointe Nord Lighthouse, where the sea stretches far in every direction, or <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/parks/canada/quebec/parc-national-danticosti?ref=result-card" target="_blank">hike trails</a> to an endless number of lookout points. </p><h3>Waterfalls and secret caves</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkd-KA6nIFH/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkd-KA6nIFH/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>The island is home to dozens of natural caves and waterfalls, many hidden away in rugged, untouched terrain. <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/quebec/belvedere-de-la-chute-vaureal" target="_blank">V</a><a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/quebec/belvedere-de-la-chute-vaureal" target="_blank">auréal Falls</a> — a dramatic 76-metre cascade that actually stands taller than Niagara Falls — is an undenibale showstopper.</p><p>Nearby, the <a href="https://www.sentiersdelacote.ca/canyon-brick#:~:text=Acc%C3%A8s,secondaires%20allant%20vers%20le%20sud." target="_blank">Rivière du Brick Canyon</a> offers a totally different vibe: emerald-green pools tucked between steep rock walls, perfect for a scenic swim (when conditions are right).</p><p>If you're after something calmer, the Chicotte River has crystal-clear, temperate water and peaceful forest views, which are ideal for a quick dip and a moment of quiet.</p><p>And for those craving underground adventure, Potato Cave (Grotte à la Patate) is one of Quebec's longest caves, stretching over 600 metres through rock carved by ancient rivers. You can explore it on your own with helmet and headlamp rentals available at the nearby <a href="https://www.sepaq.com/sepaq-anticosti/vacances-ete/annexes/sejour-chalet-camping-mcdonald.dot?language_id=1" target="_blank">McDonald Visitors Centre</a>.</p><h3>Wildlife</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUxgjCHFE7u/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUxgjCHFE7u/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>One of the island's quirks is that deer outnumber people by a ratio of more than 500 to one. But with only about 250 full-time residents, that stat isn't as shocking as it sounds.</p><p>Anticosti is home to <a href="https://www.quebecmaritime.ca/en/blog/wildlife-in-the-spotlight-throughout-quebec-maritime-national-parks?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">approximately 115,000 white-tail deer</a>. The species was introduced to the area in the late 1800s, and with no natural predators around, they now roam freely across the island. Spotting them is almost guaranteed, especially at dawn and dusk.</p><p>You might also encounter foxes, beavers, seals, and over 200 species of birds, making it a paradise for wildlife photographers and nature lovers.</p><h3>A World Heritage Site</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0GwFJgILs2/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=a3c6cfab-71c1-447e-a07e-bb0f5bc92a12" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0GwFJgILs2/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=a3c6cfab-71c1-447e-a07e-bb0f5bc92a12" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Anticosti Island <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/parks-canada/news/2023/09/anticosti-inscribed-on-unescos-world-heritage-list.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">officially joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023</a>, earning recognition as one of <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/top-unesco-world-heritage-sites-canada" target="_blank">Canada's most extraordinary natural sites</a>. Beyond its cliffs, caves, and remote beauty, the island preserves an incredible window into Earth's ancient past with the most complete fossil record of marine life from a mass extinction that occurred about 440 million years ago.</p><p>Thousand-year-old fossils are embedded in the flat coastal rock, including rare soft-bodied species that are almost never found preserved. While scientists travel from around the world to study them, many of these fossils are visible to anyone walking along the shoreline.</p><p>So don't be surprised if you casually stumble across a piece of prehistory while taking in the views.</p><h3>How to get there</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl8GzMzhntc/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=27f3131f-9e17-48db-99a2-9b6fb1f09a33" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl8GzMzhntc/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=27f3131f-9e17-48db-99a2-9b6fb1f09a33" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Getting to Anticosti isn't as easy as hopping in the car and heading north, but its remoteness is part of the charm. </p><p>You can fly from Montreal or Quebec City with regional airlines like <a href="https://www.tourismecote-nord.com/en/air-liaison/air-services/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">Air Liaison</a>, which offers regular flights to Port-Menier, the island's main village. </p><p>During the summer months, the <a href="https://relaisnordik.com/en/schedules-and-fares/" target="_blank">Relais Nordik ferry</a> operates from the North Shore, providing a scenic route to the island.</p><p>Most visitors choose to stay at the <a href="https://www.quebecmaritime.ca/en/company/sepaq-anticosti/lodging" target="_blank">Sépaq Anticosti lodge</a>, opt for rustic cabins, or bring their own camping gear to fully immerse themselves in Anticosti's natural beauty.</p><p><em>Before you get going, check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/responsible-travel-guidelines" target="_blank">Responsible Travel Guide</a> so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your trip.</em></p>
