Big Brother Africa

Big Brother Africa
Created by Endemol
Country of origin South Africa
No. of series 9
Production
Location(s) Johannesburg, South Africa
Broadcast
Original channel Various, mainly M-Net, AfricaMagic Entertainment
Original run 2003, 2007 – present
External links
Website

Big Brother Africa is the African version of the Big Brother reality game show. The show initially involved 12 countries within Africa (Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe) with two countries (Ethiopia and Mozambique) being added in season 4 and two other countries (Liberia and Sierra Leone) being added in season 7 while Rwanda was added in season 9. Each country provides at least one contestant living in an isolated house while trying to avoid being evicted by viewers and ultimately winning a large cash prize at the end of the show. The show is co-produced by Endemol South Africa.

Big Brother Africa 1

Main article: Big Brother Africa 1

The first season of Big Brother Africa, featuring 12 housemates from 12 different African countries, premiered to audiences in 42 African countries on Sunday May 25, 2003, and ended on September 7 of the same year, lasting 106 days. It was the first time in the world that the internationally famous program will be created using participants of different nationalities from one continent. Mark Pilgrim was the host.

Big Brother Africa 2

Main article: Big Brother Africa 2

The second season of Big Brother Africa, featuring 12 housemates from 12 different African countries, premiered August 5, 2007, and ended on November 11 of the same year, lasting 98 days. The show returned from its four year hiatus, with a brand new host, KB Ngakane.

Big Brother Africa 3

Main article: Big Brother Africa 3

The third season of Big Brother Africa, featured 12 housemates from 12 different African countries, premiered August 24, 2008, and ended on November 23 of the same year, lasting 91 days. KB returned as host.

Big Brother Africa 4: The Revolution

Main article: Big Brother Africa 4

The fourth season of Big Brother Africa, featured 25 housemates from 14 different African countries. The season premiered September 6, 2009, and ended on December 6 of the same year, lasting 91 days. This year, Ikponmwosa "IK" Osakioduwa took over as the new host.It was the first season featuring more than 12 contestants. It was also the first time 14 countries participated.

Big Brother Africa 5: All-Stars

Main article: Big Brother Africa 5

Big Brother Africa 5 started on July 18, 2010, and ran for 91 days until October 17, 2010. This was an all-star series which featured 14 former Big Brother Africa contestants. For the second time, IK was the host. The winner was Uti Nwachukwu

Big Brother Africa 6: Amplified

Main article: Big Brother Africa 6

The sixth season of Big Brother Africa, tagged "Amplified" ran for 91 days from May 1, 2011 to 31 July the same year. Bringing together 26 housemates from 14 different African countries, M-Net co-partnered with Cocacola for the series. IK returned as host. This season is the first ever series of Big Brother in the world to have 2 winners; Karen Igho from Nigeria and Wendall Robert Parson from Zimbabwe. One of the notable housemates in this season was Zimbabwean actress, model and TV personality, Vimbai Mutinhiri.

Big Brother Africa 7: StarGame!

Main article: Big Brother Africa 7

The seventh season of Big Brother Africa premiered to viewers in 47 African countries on Sunday 6 May 2012 and ran for 91 days until 5 August 2012. Live performances were made by American rapper J. Cole during the opening ceremony.[1][2][3][4] The show was once again headline sponsored by Coca Cola and hosted by IK.

This season, the cash prize was raised to US$ 300,000. A new rule called Double-Up was introduced to the show. This means that entrants partnered with other people to enter as a pair.

Liberia and Sierra Leone were represented in the house for the first time ever, while Ethiopia was not represented this time round and contestants from Mozambique were expected to take on a new role that was not announced, the idea was dropped and replaced with seven celebrity housemates making it a Stargame themed series.

This season featured a record breaker, for the first time ever in the worldwide history of big brother, 35 housemates went into the big brother house on launch night. From 14 African countries the 35 contestants constituted 14 pairs called BBFs(Big Brother Friends) and seven VIP celebrity housemates.

Keagan Pietersen from South Africa was crowned the winner of the $300 000 cash prize on 5 August 2012 during the 2 hours 20 minutes finale.

Big Brother Africa 8: The Chase

Main article: Big Brother Africa 8

The eighth season of Big Brother Africa aired in 2013 titled The Chase. M-net's Africa Magic confirmed the return of the series on 18 December 2012. The season premiered Sunday 26 May 2013 with 28 housemates from 14 African countries and lasted for 91 days ending on Sunday 25 August 2013.[5] Ethiopia returned as the fourteenth participating country in the show, replacing Liberia.[6] IK returned as host of the series.

Airtel took over the role of headline sponsor becoming the official sponsor of Big Brother The Chase. Once again 2 houses are featured on BBA The Chase, "Diamond" and "Ruby". Dillish Mathews from Namibia was the winner of the $300 000 cash prize.

Big Brother Africa 9: Hot-Shots

Main article: Big Brother Africa 9

M-net's Africa Magic announced the ninth season of Africa's top reality TV series on 26 May 2014. The show will begin with more swag introducing the most dynamic and talented housemates the show has ever seen on Sunday 7 September 2014 and will run live for 91 days, 24/7 on Dstv channels 197 and 198, ending with the series finale on 7 December 2014. Once again this season the grand price is 300 000 United States Dollars.

This year open auditions were held in the same 14 countries as the previous season (The Chase) with the only exception being Angola which was replaced by new-comers Rwanda. Although Angola is the only country left out from the original 12 participating countries, this year Dstv premiered a local Angolan Portuguese version, Big Brother Angola. Additional auditions were held in Mozambique so viewers can expect a little extra surprises this season.

Production of Season 9 had to be put on hold as the Big Brother house in Highlands North, Johannesburg burnt down.[7] Fortunately no one was injured in the blaze, which currently has an unknown cause.

Season 9 premiered on the 5th October 2014, nearby the old studio in "7th Street", where the 26 contestants entered the new house for 63 days.[8]

Tanzania's Idris Sultan emerged as the Ultimate Hotshot and the winner of the US$300,000.

Seasons and winners

Season Year Winner Country debutants
Big Brother Africa 1 2003 Zambia Cherise Makubale  Angola,  Botswana,  Ghana,  Kenya,  Malawi,  Namibia,
 Nigeria,  South Africa,  Tanzania,  Uganda,  Zambia,  Zimbabwe
Big Brother Africa 2 2007 Tanzania Richard Dyle Bezuidenhout
Big Brother Africa 3 2008 Angola Ricardo Venancio
Big Brother Africa 4 2009 Nigeria Kevin Chuwang  Ethiopia,  Mozambique
Big Brother Africa 5 2010 Nigeria Uti Nwachukwu
Big Brother Africa 6 2011 Nigeria Karen Igho
Zimbabwe Wendall Parsons
Big Brother Africa 7 2012 South Africa Keagan Petersen  Liberia,  Sierra Leone
Big Brother Africa 8 2013 Namibia Dillish Matheus
Big Brother Africa 9 2014 Tanzania Idris Sultan  Rwanda

References

External links