
Focus on Africa
Solo-maxxing: are people opting out of dating?
3 July 2026
Available for over a year
Have you heard of solo-maxxing, or "by yourself maxxing"? It's a social media trend in which young people are embracing single life by opting out of dating and choosing to spend more time on their own. Instead, they're prioritising personal wealth, career growth and emotional independence. So, what's driving this trend? Is it a new kind of freedom, or are young people giving up on dating altogether? BBC Focus on Africa podcast host Nkechi Ogbonna spoke to Kenyan content creator Chantelle Petit and British Somali podcaster Ahmendur Hirad about their solo-maxxing journeys, the motivations behind their choices, and the challenges they've faced along the way.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shuma, Fana Negash and Carolyne Kiambo
Senior Producers: Bella Twine and Priya Sippy
Technical Producers: David Kinyanjui
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla
