Rapper Nadia Nakai’s journey on Tropika Island of Treasure has come to an end after weeks of gruelling challenges, unexpected twists and emotional highs and lows on Réunion Island.
Competing alongside her Smoooth Fan partner, Andile Khuluse, as Team Green Apple, the rapper experienced first-hand the pressure of the competition, which tested both her physical abilities and emotional resilience.
Nadia and Andile found themselves vulnerable alongside Team Mango Peach during the Mystery Box swap before facing another major shake-up when previously eliminated contestants returned for a second chance at the game.
Despite surviving three elimination rounds throughout their time on the island, Team Green Apple eventually bowed out as a new Team Orange, made up of Caster Semenya and Ashay Sewlall, entered the competition.
Reflecting on her experience, Nadia admitted that she had underestimated just how difficult the challenges would be.
“I think I underestimated Tropika Island Of Treasure. You watch the games and think they look so simple, but when you’re under pressure and trying to win a challenge, it becomes quite daunting. I think the experience taught me about teamwork and the importance of not letting my emotions get the better of me,” she said.
The rapper explained that watching the show from home was very different from actually competing, particularly when contestants had to work against the clock while trying to secure their positions on the leaderboard.
“Something that looks so simple isn’t necessarily simple at all. There’s also the pressure of trying to win a challenge, stay high on the leaderboard and work within the time you’re given to complete a task. There are so many different elements that come into play, which make the challenges a lot more complicated than they look,” she said.
One of the highlights for Nadia was working alongside Andile, whom she credited for keeping her motivated during some of the most difficult moments.
“He really was amazing at helping me get my head back in the game. There were quite a few times when I felt like I wanted to give up, but he never let me. He was such a good motivator and someone who could immediately get me back on track, which I really appreciated,” she said.
While Nadia brought strategic thinking to their partnership, she said Andile helped her develop the determination to see challenges through.
“I think I brought more of the strategic planning when it came to the challenges. Andile, on the other hand, gave me the tenacity to keep going and focus on completing the goal. It wasn’t necessarily about rushing to get things done, but rather making sure we did them properly.”
Beyond the competition, Nadia said her time on Réunion Island was an opportunity to experience a beautiful destination she had not previously known much about.
She described the island as gorgeous, drawing comparisons to Cape Town, and praised its beaches, food and hospitality.
“The beaches are beautiful, the food was amazing and the hotel we stayed at was so opulent. It was lovely to experience the island,” she said.
However, the experience also brought up unexpected emotions. Nadia revealed that certain aspects of the competition reminded her of her high school years, when she struggled with not being among the popular girls.
“I think my biggest personal challenge was how triggering the experience could be. It reminded me of high school, particularly because I wasn’t necessarily the popular girl back then. It brought up some of those emotions, which was quite surprising because, at the end of the day, it’s a competition.”
The repeated elimination rounds also took an emotional toll on the rapper, who admitted that constantly finding herself at risk of going home affected her confidence.
“It was defeating to keep having a Safe Token and then lose it, and it was also disheartening to constantly find ourselves in the elimination rounds. Even though we always managed to survive, which was reassuring and made us tougher, having to face elimination almost every week was heartbreaking,” she said.
Among the challenges that tested her most was an underwater swimming task involving collecting balls and placing them into a hoop. However, she was particularly proud of her performance in a puzzle challenge, where she and Andile came first.
The experience also revealed something about her competitive personality that she had not fully recognised before.
“I’ve always known that I’m competitive. I just didn’t realise how emotional I could become when I’m competing,” she said.
She explained that while competition in the music industry usually inspires her and pushes her to work harder, the reality show brought a different kind of pressure because she was also conscious of not letting her partner down.
Despite her exit, Nadia said the experience taught her valuable lessons about teamwork, resilience and managing her emotions under pressure.
With the competition now reshuffled, the remaining contestants continue their battle for the R1 million grand prize.
Tropika Island of Treasure airs every Wednesday at 21:00 on SABC 1, with a repeat on Thursdays at 18:00 on S3.
