By now you possibly have noticed that for a second year running, hugely popular pan-African show, Big Brother Africa (BBA), is not happening in 2016.

According to a statement from Mnet, the show is still under evaluation and thus not part of the upcoming programming schedule.

“At the moment, the team is busy re-evaluating the strategic direction of Big Brother Africa. Be assured that when it returns, it will be bigger and better,” reads the statement.

When BBA first premiered on Sunday May 25, 2003, it shook African airwaves. For the very first time, reality TV about Africans for Africa, was broadcasting in more than 10 countries. Unlike now, where Africa has been abbreviated to South Africa and Nigeria, the reality show had participants from different countries where MultiChoice has a presence, including Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Angola, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Nigeria.

The show introduced us to eventual winner Cherise Makubale (Zambia), Cameron Stout who visited from the Big Brother UK house, among others.

The longest Big Brother Africa season, the first one lasted for 106 days, yet Ugandans enjoyed each day until it wrapped on September 7, even inspiring hit songs for people like Bebe Cool. The show’s shower hour had many glued to their TVs in the morning, and others lounged in bars as they waited for the ‘uncut’ sessions.

The show then took a break, returning in 2007 for a second season with Maureen Namatovu representing Uganda. The days in the house had been clipped to 98; the show host had changed from Mark Pilgrim to Kabelo Ngakane, and it was too predictable.

And that would write the script for subsequent seasons; with each edition, the show’s popularity dwindled. Not even the move to double the number of housemates or triple the cash prize saved the show. It did not help matters that the popular shower hour had been scrapped due to an outcry from the channel’s sizeable Nigerian subscribers that even then influenced what the rest of Africa watched.
The last time BBA got Ugandans talking was in 2013; it was the eighth season and Uganda was represented by Urban TV and XFM presenter Charlie ‘Denzel’ Mwiyeretsi. His sense of fashion and weird dance moves aside, he was the third consecutive Vision Group employee representing Uganda after Ernest Wasike and Kyle Duncan Kushaba, raising questions on whether contestants were handpicked, and not a result of auditions.

Many believe the show had lost its way before producers even thought of re-evaluating it and was simply riding on the success of its premiere season.

“That season was a hit for many reasons; it was fresh and almost all contestants had no expectations,” Hannah Nakuya, who was in S4 when BBA I was on air, says, adding that there was a surprise factor for both the audience and contestants.

“By the time the show came back in 2007, many of the new contestants had watched season one and thus wanted to replicate it,” she says.

Maureen Nakate, a fan that has watched at least three of the seasons, notes that the reason the show is not coming back was because it lost itself.

“At the beginning, they introduced us to 12 nobodies from Africa; by the time they came back for the seasons that followed, they were introducing us to somehow known Africans – models, beauty pageant contestants, artistes and media personalities.”

Look at Uganda’s contestants; after Gaetano who was a law student from Makerere, subsequent season had Namatovu, a budding designer and pageant contestant; Maurice Mugisha, a famous model; Ernest Wasike, a radio presenter and public relations executive; before Kyle and Denzel, both TV personalities; and the last one in 2014: a serving Miss Uganda, Stella Nantumbwe.

But other schools of thought say the show is not coming back because of financial issues. It is said that with dwindling ratings, the show lost advertisers and it became hard to run an expensive show.

Wasike told The Observer, “I think the show has failed because it failed to have a follow- up program that would have the previous contestants be looked upon as people that society would aspire to be. When you are out, it’s back to being in a jungle, yet you have been put up there in public.”

In his view, people did not see the value of actually being in the house, thus the failure to get suitable candidates. Other contestants, however, have Big Brother to thank for transforming their lives. Gaetano was catapulted to continental TV fame thanks to BBA.

Denzel and Sharon O say the show was a lifesaver because of the representation package given to each contestant. At the moment, two things are certain: a full rebrand and strategizing of the show; if not, then the station would have killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. For now, South Africa has had national seasons of its own Big Brother, as has Angola.

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Despite their hangovers, housemates had to tap into their mental faculties for the Head of House qualifier. Sheillah said she could not wait to give up her title, because she was very tired. She must have been relieved not to have Elikem hovering over her shoulder anymore.

The task was a Payporte Quiz Game, which had been set up in the garden. Housemates had to keep their ears open and absorb the information Big Brother read to them about the inception, history and creative elements of the Payporte website. Once Biggie finished reading, the game began with him asking questions based on what he had just read.

Whoever knew the answer to a question had to press a button which illuminated their light and they had to raise their right hands. Biggie would confirmed which housemate was the fastest, then gave them a chance to answer.

They were told that they were not allowed to shout out answers and anyone who did would be immediately disqualified. The three housemates with the most correct answers in the Payporte Quiz Game would progress to the Head of House task.

After a bit of confusion, with Biggie having to go over the rules and procedure again, the game began. Trezagah, unable to play because of his nomination, watched his fellow housemates. Once the game was over, there was a round of sudden death to break a tie betweenButterphly, Nhlanhla and JJ. With JJ winning, it meant that he qualified for the HoH task along with Tayo and Macky2.

Who do you think will become the HoH?

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If Ellah makes the list tonight, she’ll have been up a record six times thus far

Following Frankie and Permithias‘ evictions last night, the 14 surviving housemates were as usual subjected to nominations and the housemates from the losing Extravaganza team (B) including; Mr.265, Macky2, Ellah, Goitse, Butterphly, Idris and Sipe had to suffer to consequences.

After the nomination sessions, it was clear which housemates were wanted out of the house; Mr.265 bagged the most nominations (7) with most housemates reasoning that he’s manipulative and two faced. Macky2 followed closely with 5 nods, outgoing HoH Idris and Sipe bagged 4 nominations each with housemates saying that the two had dodged the gallows for a long time. Ugandan beauty queen Ellah was not given a break after she got three nods because of being a strong competitor in the game. Zimbabwean Butterphly who was put up last week by HoH Idris also got three.

From the losing team (B),  It’s only Goitse who was never nominated, she however makes the list after having contravened the Freeze task rules last week.

With the HoH task coming up in a while, the total of housemates up for possible eviction this week is most likely to be eight! Who do you think the new HoH will add to the list just in case Mr.265, Macky2, Idris, Sipe, Butterphly, Ellah and Goitse go up

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Right after the evictions last night, it was Nominations.  Biggie’s rules as usual are simple, you come up with two names or else you get on the block automatically. And without wasting time, the nominations were done and concluded.

After hiding in the shells of the extravaganza winning teams for two weeks, Sheillah and Macky2 were  finally spotted  on he losing side thus on the Nomination list and finally nominated.

The bold and bald Tswana girl hit the block with 10 nomination votes with one common reason that she pulls tantrums on housemates without considering  their emotions. On the other hand, Macky2 was nominated because fellow Housemates find him quiet thus denying them a chance to know him well.

The Nomination went as follows; Sheillah-10, Macky2-9, Mr. 265-5, Luis-3, Kacey-3, Arthur-3, Permithias-2, Nhalanhla-1 and Sheillah-1.

Today we’ll have the HOH competitions from  which the winner will have to add a housemate on the block,

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It’s only been three weeks, the hotshots has been sent into overdrive with 5 Housemates now down. Housemates are trying everything they can to survive the blade but one thing is certain, at least one housemate has to go home tonight……Big Brother Hotshots return with another live Eviction.

PREVIOUSLY ON BIG BROTHER…..
After the second extravaganza performance, Africa chose Team B as the winner leaving the by then HOH’s team forming the Nomination pool. Alusa, Ellah, JJ,Laveda,Mam Bea, Nhlanhla and Permithias were nominated. In the second HOH competition, Nhlanhla was crowned the New House sheriff which automatically pulled him off the block. Coming to the HOH add decision, Nhlanhla didn’t hesitate to add  Zambia’s  Macky2 on the block. This meant that Macky2 had joined an alliance he doesn’t know about; being one of the seven final nominees for possible eviction this Sunday. Tonight, the game will end for at least one of the following; Alusa, Ellah, JJ, Mam Bea,Laveda Macky2 and Permithias…..Who did Africa choose? Find out tonight at 20:00 CAT.

Plus .….will the game end for Uganda, Kenya and Zambia as they have already booted one  of their two Housemates.

The first week saw Zambia and  Mozambique losing one of their two housemates to eviction. The second week didn’t  go well for for Uganda Kenya and Nigeria as they all lost a housemate. This week it is Uganda, Kenya and Zambia in the hot seat with their last representatives on the block. Will it be game over for them or a new miracle will show up?

If we are to go with the massive eviction like last week, and if the three countries become this week’s weakest links, we might see them packing…..But as the motto goes for Big Brother, “Expect the unexpected”.

Who do you think will leave the house tonight?

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Soon after the first eviction show yesterday, each remaining housemate was called to the diary room to make their two nominations and give valid reasons for their nominations. One rule applied: If a housemate refuses to nominate, they will automatically be put up for eviction. So it goes without saying that all housemates managed to come forth with nominations.

Announcing the names of the nominees this night, in alphabetical order, Biggie read, Alusa, Ellah,JJ,Laveda, Mam Bea, Nhlanhla and Permithias. However, Nnhlanhla won the Head Of House this morning which too won him immunity this week. At least one of the housemates will be evicted on Sunday.

As HOH, he had to add a name to the list of nominees. What this meant was that this housemate would then go under the nomination dagger alongside the rest of the nominated heads, except that he or she and the housemates would only find this out at the eviction show.

For his HOH  add decision, Nhlanhla chose to put up Macky2 as the  unlucky one this week. This means that the final names up for eviction this week are Alusa, Ellah, JJ, Laveda, Mam Bea, Permithias and Macky2. Still at least one of them will leave on Sunday.

Start voting now to save your favorite Housemates

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    Goitse and Kacey were not nominated and might keep that clean sheet to the finals!

Despite the fact  the  Housemates had only 13 choices for Nominations (those who lost the extravaganza), there were still some two  faces that went unnoticed throughout the whole  process  and those were Goitse and Kacey. These two never got even  a single nomination vote!

I was still wondering, with a few choices available, why would Goitse and Kacey go missing on the list with 24 housemates nominating! I then came to figure out that these people are the Hotshots’ weakest links!  Yes, have  you ever heard any housemate talking about these two in the Diary room? Besides Idris who is madly in love, who else talks about Goitse? No one, unless when they talked about dancing and Idris’ date. And my Kacey Moore, aka the crying boy with a daughter home! I hardly hear anyone talking about him in the Diary Room and it might continue like that for rest of the time until he reaches the finals.

Being an untouchable in nominations guarantees one safety every week up to the finals but it doesn’t guarantee them the grand prize money. Yes, this proves that one is a weak player and Africa too sees it that way. Hope everyone remembers The Chase’s Beverly. The Nigerian babe went 13 weeks without hitting the nomination list. She managed to make it to the final five  but she wasn’t even close to winning. This is because Africa didn’t know her strength and weakness and I bet if she too knew what her weakness and strength were!

My point is; One may feel sweet and safe when they escape the nominations but it doesn’t help them  to win the prize. Because we the viewers need to see the nominated side of any Housemate, to judge if it differs from the safe version of them. I  therefore feel for my two friends Goitse and Kacey as their comfort zone might cost them the grand prize.

What do you think?

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Following the  erroneous  omission of Permithias from the Nominee  list yesterday evening, fans’ complaints went viral during the past 24  hours asking Biggie and his organizers to rectify the problem for a fair treat among countries. M-Net this afternoon released a press statement acknowledging the error and promised to correct it. It was therefore decided that the online voting be closed and the  already -in-votes be cancelled by the  auditors. The statement went ahead to say that the Nominee read would be re-done  this evening to the Housemates  and Africa.

With all housemates gathered in the lounge, Big Brother told them about the big error made in the revelation of the nominees yesterday. He told them that a housemates name was left out  which called for  the cancellation of the  votes that had come in already to make it fair for all housemates. He then read the final list and in alphabetical order were, Esther, Frankie, JJ, Laveda, Lilian, Permithia, Sabina and Tayo. He again let them know that the HOH has the power to add one Housemate to make the final list of Housemates up for eviction.

Called to the Diary room for her add decision, HOH Samatha did not make any change regarding her yesterday’s decision. She kept Ellah’s name as her add decision making the final list as Ellah, Esther , Frankie, JJ, Laveda, Lilian, Permithias and Tayo for  possible eviction.

You can now start voting to keep  your favorite housemates in the game

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Housemates have this evening had time to listen to shocking though expected news! From the Nominations held yesterday, housemates were each to nominate two of their housemates for possible eviction.

Frankie  8 , JJ  7,  Tayo 7, Permithias  6, Esther   5, Sabina  4, Lilian 3 ,Laveda  3 had the most number of  votes and with results in, the only awaited process was the HOH decision where she had to add one housemate on the nominee list. Revealing  the news to them, Biggie said, “The housemates up for  eviction this week in alphabetical order are, Esther, Frankie, JJ, Laveda, Lilian, Sabina and Tayo.” We wonder how Permithias got off the list and we still hope they will rectify that as soon as possible.

Hearing her name Esther aka Small Pepper aka  miss social could not believe  that she was on the list. “What a f#@k,” the pint sized Ugandan shouted in disbelief.

As communicated earlier on, Biggie told the housemates that the HOH may add one housemate to the nominee list for possible eviction.  For her add choice, Samantha decided to add Ellah on  the  block to join fellow Ugandan Esther. This now implies that the final  names for possible eviction this week are Ellah, Esther, Frankie,JJ, Laveda, Lilian, Sabina and Tayo and at least one of these will be evicted on Sunday.

Start voting Now to save your favorite Housemate.

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    Nigeria and Uganda in the hot seat ….they might lose both of their Housemates

We have always been telling you that the game is on but the real game started on Sunday with the very first eviction and Nominations thereafter.

From the nominations and final Head Of Household add decision, the final names of housemates up for week two’s eviction were released. Esther, Frankie, JJ, Laveda, Lilian, Sabina and Tayo being the initial nominees, HOH Samantha added Ellah to the list making a total of eight housemates on the block from whom at least one will head home come Sunday.

With just 13 participating countries, in a few days moved, Uganda and Nigeria have been the first to taste the hottest seat of the hotshots with both their housemates on the edge! Yeah, hottest, you might think of Zambia and Mozambique who have already lost a housemate but Nigeria and Uganda are likely to lose both!

With 8 Housemates on the block and 13 countries voting plus the Rest of Africa vote, there is going to be a big battle for the votes. The 8 countries will have to save their housemates first and for those having two on the block, it will be bloody. I wouldn’t want to speculate that it will be among the four housemates to leave on Sunday but sharing their country votes induces one to think about it.

Let’s talk about the battle for the country votes between Ellah with Esther and Lilian with Tayo. Last week it was the same thing because except Tanzania which had only Idris on the block, the other countries had both reps in danger and this implied a small winning margin even people without a country vote managed to stay.

This time round it’s a different story and some votes across Africa will go to favorite housemates leaving me worried for Nigeria and Uganda. It’s hard to know who from these four housemates will win their country votes because of different personalities and different country tastes. Uganda’s Esther is outgoing and but still it doesn’t leave the self centred Ellah. Lilian is one housemate you would call for entertainment and so is Tayo. This makes it tough for the Nigerians but all will be known on Sunday.

How do you think Africa will decide?

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First couple gets destroyed …Game on

What  becomes bloody in Big Brother is starting a showmance and get separated by the evictions. Yesterday’s very first eviction was not good for Namibia’s Luis as it shattered all his love hopes he had built in Mira. After a one week journey in the house, Luis had found Mira as one person with whom he wanted to connect  for the rest of his Big Brother life. Unfortunately, it was not their lucky day as the first eviction swept her away.

Luis  and Mira connected on the third day of the game after shifting his feelings he had for Nigeria’s Lilian. The 23 old Namibian Associate Producer was hotting for Lilian but after learning that she was not sharing the same  feeling, he backed off and spotted Mira who never gave him hard time but at this particular juncture, he’s back to square one.

In their short time, the duo spent some quality time together, cuddled, caressed,  almost (if not)  had sex and had vowed never to leave each other no-matter what was to happen on Sunday. After the eviction, Luis was saddened by Mira’s exit for which he was seen sickly and sadly seated alone nursing his wounds. Later on he  was joined by Sabina who consoled and encouraged him to only mourn his beau for a short time and  then focus on the game yet again.

“I know what you are feeling right now and it’s normal to feel this way but you shouldn’t  let this take away your focus on the game. You get time and mourn her then get over it and focus on your game again,” Sabina told Luis. This will be a wake up call to the other lovers  in the house to have a back up plan in case things turn out in a Luis-Mira way.

We  just hope that he gets over it and find courage to play his game yet again.

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Right after the eviction, Housemates were not given time to nurse wounds following the eviction of  their fellow housemates with whom they had started to bond. Biggie called  Housemates right away for nomination and as usual every housemate was required to nominate two` of the members from the extravaganza presentation. This is how the nomination sessions went:

Alusa’s Nomination Session

1. Esther because she is the one he has least connected with so far among the housemates.

2. Tayo because he is a bit aggressive and has rubbed people in a wrong way

Arthur’s Nomination Session

1. JJ because he has the I I character and he’s one of the reasons why their group lost in the extravaganza
2. Sabina because she wanted to shine more and forgot the group.. still the extravaganza presentation

Butterphly’s Nomination Session

1. Frankie because they were cool when they had just got here but they are not vibing well these days
2. Esther because she too was cool with her but something snapped and they are not clicking now

Ellah’s Nomination Session

1. Tayo because he was a bit aggressive during the task
2. Laveda because she becomes too controlling

Esther’s Nomination Session

1. JJ because they lost because he couldn’t listen to them as he couldn’t take people’s advice
2. Permithias because he insulted her friend Tayo, Today when they were in the lounge, something happened between Tayo and Laveda but Permithias brought it back, she thinks it was provocative

Frankie’s Nomination Session

1. Tayo because he behaves like a kid ..he talks about their incident

2. JJ because he is egocentric

Goitse’s Nomination Session

1. Esther because she feels that some people are to blame for their team loss
2. Lilian because they were supposed together as the team but after the announcement, Lilian made it seem like they did nosense

Idris’ Nomination Session

1. Frankie because he’s outgoing and cool but he thinks he doesn’t fit in the group(Biggie rejects this because he chooses Housemates carefully)…He says that they are not really connecting, he’s the odd man out.
2. Permithias because he’s trying to girls in the house

JJ’s Nomination Session

1. Lilian because of her reaction(she was cursing) towards other team winning and she was negative in the team
2. Laveda because she uses the idea of being the HOH in doing everything especially in the task. she is trying to outshine others

Kacey’s Nomination session

1. Frankie because he hasn’t blended in yet, he has not yet put up his real self
2. Sabina because he thinks she hasn’t been very accommodative others with their opinions

Laveda’s Nomination Session

1. JJ because she feels like he didn’t give enough chance to rest of the team during the task and they had trusted him as a director
2. Frankie because she thinks he could have fought for his position (Vocalist) but he didn't

Lilian’s Nomination Session


1.JJ. because he is the reason why they lost as he couldnt give other people chance
2. Alusa because of the same reason, he too did nothing to lift the team

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After saying good bye to Zambia’s Resa as the fist hotshot to get evicted  from the Big Brother house, Africa’s votes also decided to send Mira from Mozambique home.

Leaving her beau Luis and country man Macky2 still battling for  the $300,000, Mira has become the second housemate to leave the game out of the 26 who entered a week ago. This now leaves the  journey to 24 housemates planing for the grand prize.

In her chat with host IK on the Live eviction stage, she said that it was a good feeling to be in the house and she was grateful for  the opportunity though at the same time she feels good to be outside the house. ” I miss my family and my phone,” Mira said.

About Luis, she said he’s an amazing guy she has ever met and  she likes him as she watched their kissing  video clip. And about her kiss with Nhlanhla, all she had to was….he’s my brother!

We going to miss Mira  and …..we wish the best to Mira in all her endeavors.

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The first ever evictions of Big Brother Hotshots claimed 25-year-old Zambian Events Planner, MC and Public Speaker Resa, she sadly leaves the game just after a week!

Just before host IK called out her name, all the housemates (seated and standing) were evidently very distressed and wondered what Biggie had in store for them, well, a while later, Resa was told that she had to leave the house much to her surprise.

Interestingly. she didn’t want anybody to give her a good bye kiss or a hug, Idris stood in her way for a hug but she declined to have one and thus left the house as Biggie counted down one minute.

Go well Resa, you surely had a great journey though it had to end prematurely!

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Where I come from, I  always get suspicious,curious and sometimes scared when someone warns me of how big any upcoming event is going to be! All along we have been hearing this whole thing that  Big  Brother Hotshots is gonna be bigger than any season, not knowing that 25 Housemates will all be put up for possible eviction! Yeah, it is true and a big shocker!

After a fun-filled grand opening of the hotshots, the next thing we had was   the crowning of  the Household followed by a massive nomination! Wondering how all this happened in  one night? sorry, two hours?… Well, the opening show saw performances from  the hotshots as they were getting rated. At the end of it, the winner was rewarded with HOH title.

Laveda’s amazing and soothing saxophone performance earned her the first Head of House title of the season. This not only  left her safe for  the week, but also put the other 25 housemates’ game in jeopardy as they were automatically nominated for this week’s  possible eviction.

With only 13 countries participating this year, plus the Rest of Africa Vote, one can imagine how tricky the voting system is going to be this time round.

At this particular juncture,  there are two things we  all know in the Hotshots:

1. 25 Housemates are up for possible eviction!

2. At least one  housemate will be going home next Sunday!

I leave the rest to you the readers and fans of the  show to figure this out as you vote to save your favourite Housemates.
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