Julius OkorieBig Brother Naija, popularly called BbNaija, a popular reality TV show was launched in 2006 and has since gone eight series with the 9th edition set to premier next week, precisely on 28th July.
The concept of the show is that a group of people must live together in an isolated home, giving up all contact with the outside world, including their families.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThrough the process of elimination, only one winner remains. Expectedly, there would be clashes, alignments and re-alignments in the course of the usually 10-week-long reality sojourn with strangers, if you like, whom you may never have met before hitting the house called Big Brother House.
Naturally, just like in every human setting, you blend with some and not with others. There will be back-biting, back-stabbing and all that, all aimed at evicting an opponent without necessarily physically pushing him or her out of your sight.
At the end of the exercise, some come out to reconcile outside the house and others may prefer their parts never cross again.
A typical example of what the Big Brother has joined together let no man put asunder is the marriage of Bamike Olawunmi popularly called Bambam, and Tope Adenibuyan also known as Teddy A.
After the Reality TV show, Bambam and Teddy A got married in a colourful white wedding, which happened in Dubai, UAE.
The lovebirds tied the knot months after they announced their engagement on Instagram. They were part of Season 3 dubbed Double Wahala but in the end, theirs was not double wahala but love in Tokyo that has since been blessed with the fruit of the womb.
Then came the duo of Khafi Kareem and Gedoni Ekpata, who featured in Season four dubbed Pepper Dem. They made no secrets of their affection for each other while the show lasted and viewers were optimistic that they will take the affection a step further and indeed, they did, getting married afterwards and then welcomed their first child in 2020.
READ ALSO: BBNaija Season 9: MultiChoice Slashes Prize Money To N100M
Some moralists have frowned at some aspects of the BBNaija show, especially when there are movements that suggest that something is happening or has happened, or about to happen under the sheets.
Many however point to the positives, insisting that positives outweigh the negatives.
The big question will be, why do so many people love and follow the BBNaija reality show? Here are eight Major reasons BBNaija remains a big hit.
ENTERTAINMENT
Stress has been identified as the greatest cause of hypertension and other killer diseases, hence people tend to seek ways of ‘calming down’ to avoid overheating, and big brother and its intrigues appear to provide them with that.
EMPOWERMENT
Winners of the show have always come out better than they were before they went into the house. Win or lose, they become more marketable and end up as ambassadors of products and companies thus increasing their financial base and worth. The forthcoming edition though with slashed prize money of N100million from N120million doled out in Season 8, such largesse can take a man out of poverty for life.
LEARNING TO COPE WITH CHARACTERS
Because the Big Brother House boasts of most times a minimum of 20 housemates coping with different characters, individuals from diverse upbringing, learning to accommodate and tolerate becomes inevitable. There are people who cannot share space and if such people get into the house be rest assured that near immediate eviction will take place because there is no way people will not get into your way and vice versa.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Because of its large viewership and followership, the Big Brother show has become a haven for advertisers who want to key into the programme to advertise their product obviously with desire for more sales and more profits. No fewer than a dozen companies have keyed into the 2024 edition. This certainly provides employment opportunities for workers who work in those companies.
WIN-WIN SITUATION
It is a win, win situation. While the fans spend their money to watch whether on cable or their phones as they go to satisfy their yearning for entertainment, the organisers smile to the bank thanks to proceeds from voting and adverts etc. The housemates become instant celebrities and household names. They become brand ambassadors outside the house even if they did not emerge overall winner.
FREEDOM TO CHOOSE:
Although it said that there is no absolute democracy, there is nothing people cherish as to be the ones to determine an issue through their voting powers. Die-hard lovers of BBNaija see themselves as Very, Very, Important Personalities (VVIP) by virtue of the fact that they determine who stays or leaves the house. The feeling of king maker is always there, even when some uninterested fellows accuse them of taking panadol for another man’s headache. The bragging right of my candidate won is always a source of pride.
SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND NATIONAL ECONOMY
BBNaija and indeed other realities shows have been likened to major tournaments where fans make a lot of financial sacrifice to be part of the show. While it lasts sales of recharge cards for data to comment and to vote is increased. Some subscribers of Dstv are known to renew their subscriptions only when there is a major event like BBNaija, and switch off afterwards.
Final evictions attract dignitaries and media from far and near and many of these set of people may have to lodge in hotels and make some expenses that add to either individual economy or national economy. Increased subscription of course is a plus for organisers, Multichoice.
TALENT AND SELF DISCOVERY:
Some housemates who had gone into the house timid, learnt to express themselves and their actions. This has also helped some to discover hidden talent they never knew they had. The show has thus served as launching pad for some who became entrepreneur afterwards. The choice to shun the show on moral grounds abound no doubt, but for lovers of this all-encompassing show, the music according to them is sweet and if music be food of love they say, play on!
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
