Entertainment

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Dillish Matthews, a Namibian housemate, emerges winner of season eight of Big Brother Africa Chase reality television show

|  By Chinwe Okafor  |  Sep. 9, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT

NINETY days after a rigorous training and mind-boggling activities, Dillish Matthews, a Namibian housemate on August 25, emerged the winner of Big Brother Africa Chase TV reality show season 8 with a whooping sum of USD300, 000. The show which was hosted in Johannesburg in South Africa, was sponsored by Airtel and produced by Endemol South Africa. It was a game meant only for the fittest.

Matthews, who described herself as caring, fun-loving, troublesome and an adventurous lady, said that her best quality is that she’s very real and straightforward. She values caring and considerate and dislikes those who are selfish and lazy. “I entered Big Brother because I have been a fan of the show for some time and promised that I would enter the contest as soon as I was old enough to do so. It’s a bit scary to know that Africa will be watching me at all times but I’m excited to share my private life and lifestyle with the continent. The best thing about Africa is the diverse cultures and the unity.

The grand finale of the show saw the two Nigerian housemates, Beverly Osu and Melvin Oduah, Elikem, a representative of Ghana, Cleo representing Zambia and Dillish in the house after the other 23 housemates had left. Nigeria’s Beverly was the first to be evicted, followed by Melvin, then Elikem, leaving Cleo and Dillish as the final two standing. At the end of it all, Cleo was evicted leaving Namibia’s Dillish as the housemate making her the winner of the eighth season of Big Brother Africa.

The host, IK Osakioduwa showed off his stellar dance moves wearing a suit and a tie. The final show saw performances from Ice Prince Zamani and a surprise comeback performance from ex-housemate, Sulu. It was full of  lots of interesting twists and turns. Elikem took home the prize of the most romantic housemate which he said he would be spending with his love, Pokello, an ex-housemate.

However, the big surprise for viewers all over the world, especially in Nigeria, where the reality show commands large followership, was the eviction of Melvin as the second housemate to leave the house. Immediately his name was mentioned by Osakioduwa, the presenter, who was obviously surprised that the Delta State indigene was eliminated at that stage, the social media went agog with disapproval of the result. Obviously, the fact that Melvin was leading the poll the previous day, must have contributed to the outburst from his fans.How that result changed overnight, is still the question on the lips of many.

Other contestants took turns to greet tearful Matthews, who had always dreamt of buying a gigantic TV set. They couldn’t wait but rushed into the house to congratulate the ‘queen’. Her man, Steven, crowned the evening by presenting Matthews with a tiara crown. Osu and Oduah have since arrived Nigeria on August 27, two days after the show’s grand finale. They were welcomed by a crowd, which included friends, family members and fans.

Though Matthews, got the prize money, Oduah remains the Big Brother owing to the fact that his behaviour in the house was outstanding. He has proved to the whole world that character makes a man. Despite the intrigues and politicking in the house, especially the perceived attack on West African housemates, Oduah, carried everyone along like a big brother. Never quick to anger and a perfect gentleman, his performance in the house will surely influence other well meaning Nigerian youths to enter for the show, which was before now viewed in many quarters as ‘immoral.’

Despite the large fellowship by Nigerians in the show, some people still say it should be scrapped because it is not of any benefit to Africa at large. Ogemdi Ezenwa, a housewife and mother of three, said that BBA has continued to glorify bad manners and dirty acts. “Africa seems to be at war with poverty, bad governance, insecurity, economic stagnation and terrorism. I am affected by what I read and watch on the internet and so it is left to imagination how many youths in the African continent have been negatively influenced by this show of shame and degradation of the African culture,” she said.

Speaking in the same vein is Ngozi Enemuo, a university student, said the show needs to be scrapped and that Africa has serious issues to tackle with money. “BBA, is of no value to the youths and I don’t see why it should continue, it should be scrapped or better still be re-packaged,” she said.

But, Lilian Okechukwu, a fashion designer, said she loves the show. She said that had it not been for work, she would sit all day watching the show. “Those who criticise the BBA claim that it is destroying the moral fabric of the society. For all those subscribing to this school of thought, I hate to say that they should keep their holy attitudes to themselves; our societies are no doubt unholy,” she said.

According to Okechukwu, the BBA is, no doubt, Africa’s most popular reality television show. Hate it or love it. Psychologists will tell you there is no big deal about the show. They argue that human beings, regardless of who they are, once put in the same house totally detached from the outside world, will do exactly what the housemates do.

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