• Adeyinka Akintunde

TWENTY housemates were ushered in to begin the highly anticipated Big Brother Naija, Africa’s biggest reality television show, on Sunday, January 28, 2018 in South Africa.  The show, which is now at its third edition is tagged “Double Wahala” as against “See Gobee” it was called in 2017.

The housemates are competing for 45 million naira and a brand new SUV car. A few of them include Tobi, a 23-year-old banker and photographer; Princess, a public relations manager; K. Brule, an upcoming song writer and artiste; Khloe, a 24-year-old fashion designer; Nina, a 21-year-old graduate of English and Literary Studies; Bittobryan, who is an on-air presenter is 26 years old; Leo, 25 year-old entrepreneur; Lolu, an investment manager who is 29 and Anto, a 28-year-old Etsako indigene of Edo State, among others.

The new housemates met a twist right from the opening ceremony, as they were asked to pick numbers and were directed to find the bed corresponding to the number, when they get into the house, waiting for further instructions from Big Brother.

The opening ceremony saw Kiss Daniel perform his song “Yeba” to the delight of fans. It followed with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the host, making some special announcements of Big Brother providing a telephone in the house, where he would communicate to a housemate and no other housemate must eavesdrop. There is also  a “special seat” meant only for the head of house.

Obi-Uchendu further announced that viewers would be allowed to give suggestions of tasks that housemates should undertake in the house, on various social media handles, with Big Brother selecting the best as the task for the housemates.

A reunion show featuring some of the previous housemates had been aired for one week before the launch on Sunday.

Nevertheless, it seems that the show is losing its vibes with the Nigerian youths. Some of them who spoke with Realnews expressed contempt for the return of the reality show.

Ijede Winne, an on-air presenter and student, expressing her thoughts, said via WhatsApp: “So at my age, or say, with my life in view, Big Brother Naija is now the next thing I should spend all my life watching? Something must be wrong with me in that case.  So, I should be watching people waking up, eating, playing “truth and dare”, having sex and all? I cannot even imagine.”

Olaniyi Olanrewaju, a blogger and an advocate for quality education, said the security challenges being faced in Nigeria were enough problems to attend than watching the reality show, which would only serve as a distraction.

“I think it is a big distraction to the entire nation at this crucial time when security of our nation is currently very thin. We need every voice to push for security in the country right now, and not to be discussing what happens inside one building.

“The social media has been a very huge force in making the federal government rise up to her many neglected responsibilities and right now, security and PVC registration are what we should all be talking about, not #BBNaija,” Olanrewaju said.

Abimbola Omotola, a serving National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member in Ekiti State, simply told Realnews that Big Brother Naija, “is a waste of time and money.”

But for Femi Atere, a public speaker, musician and Computer scientist, BB Naija is entertaining and educative, aside the odd side of it.

In a chat with Realnews, Atere said: “I am not a fan of the Big Brother Naija show, but I watched the highlight of the previous edition and it appeared cool to me aside the ” explicit acts”.

The twists-physiological and emotional seem cool and educative.  I am waiting to see how the overall show turns out, before giving my assessment on it.”

Efe Ejeba is the current “defending champion” of the show, winning N24 million, and a new Kia SUV Jeep.

It remains to be seen who coasts home with the big prize after 85 days.

–Jan. 29, 2018 @ 11:35 GMT