What a relief! So, the Big Brother Naija reality television programme is finally over. It ended Sunday evening with 23-year old Efe Michael Ejemba, University of Jos graduate of Economics and singer winning the N25 million + SUV at stake, with 57.6% of the votes from over 24 million voters across Africa. Warri, where Efe’s family lives, erupted in excitement. At the Multichoice viewing centre in Ikeja, Lagos, where Katung Aduwak took charge so brilliantly, there was a similar eruption of incandescent joy. I was relieved because for about 70 days, the Big Brother Naija show was a big distraction, crass capitalism at its most cynical edge, a source of unmanageable madness in homes and on the streets. Now that it is over, it is time for some honest frank talk for the attention of all stakeholders involved.
Let me start with the lessons, on a positive note, before delivering the blows. Lesson one: In a very instructive manner, the Big Brother Naija reality television show promoted the ideas of choice and people power at the heart of democracy. Televised across Africa, the viewers had the final say in determining who stayed in the house or left during eviction moments on Sundays. The votes were collated, audited and confirmed by Deloitte, a firm of auditors and thus, the viewer as the voter determined the outcomes. In that regard, a reality show of that sort promoted a consciousness of democracy, choice and influence and it further explained why the people from Nigeria to Cape Agulhas all the way up to the Mediterranean sea took fierce ownership of the programme. In a continent where power is the ultimate aphrodisiac and every access to power, fame and influence is seen as an opportunity to oppress and demean, whatever is done to promote a consciousness of choice and the civil society is laudable. Multichoice, thanks.
Lesson Two: in every business concept, perseverance pays. Multichoice has been running its Big Brother Naija and Big Brother Africa concepts for a number of years. Apparently, this year’s Big Brother Naija has been the most impactful, the most profitable and probably also, the most exciting. In one week, over 11 million persons voted to determine the eviction. In the final week of the programme, over 24 million persons voted – that is more than the total number of persons who voted in the Nigerian Presidential election in 2015. This year, Multichoice has made more money from the Big Brother franchise than it has ever done. The programme was sponsored by PayPorte, and with all the voting, and the money spent on recharge cards, Big Brother and Multichoice are the biggest winners. In the end, it is all about business and profit. Everybody has been used. In business, once you have a good, attractive product and you can capture the market, you can fool everybody and make profit. Multichoice, weh done – in Falz, the bad guy’s voice.
Lesson three: humility pays. At the end of the day, in the last week of the programme, the decision by the viewing public was a moral, sentimental one. The biggest star of the programme was, I don’t know what you think, TBOSS (real name: Tokunbo Idowu), half Nigerian, half-Romanian. She dominated the space with her Jezebelic antics, even got some of the male participants ousted by entrapping and outsmarting them with her sexual wiles. She projected herself as a sex object, the ultimate manipulator, the champion Delilah of the Big Brother Africa series. She even made a joke of the entire Big Brother concept by saying she didn’t need the money and if she won, she would spend it in two weeks to pay off debts, and in any case, she had men hitting on her, offering to take her on a ride in their private jets. She played the role of a female barracuda.
Given her looks and talents, she would have been a perfect winner. She would have looked good on the billboards. But she lost because of her arrogance. Attitude is everything: this is the lesson of TBOSS’s disgrace and humiliation. When she was sent out of the House as the second runner up, the viewing centre in Ikeja, Lagos, including Kemen whose nemesis she was, danced in joy. “They are taunting me?” she asked Ebuka, the anchor. No, sweetheart, they were making a far more serious statement about you. The melodramatic ending of Big Brother Naija 2017 is its only redeeming outcome.
Bisola, the first runner up does not even have a degree but she showed talent and resolve, even if her whorish flirtation with Thin Tall Tony is so cheap and self-denigrating. Her One-Nigeria consolation prize is something big she should take seriously. Efe won because of his humility. He is considered the poorest and the most needy of the contestants. Patrons of the programme chose to vote for the contestant who looked and sounded like he would need the money and the opportunity. They gave him a chance in life, although the organizers must ensure that going forward, the show does not become a poverty alleviation scheme.
Bisola came second because she too looked like she needed help. Debbie Rise and Marvis also made the finals, but that was meant to be a great compliment to their good conduct, but they didn’t have enough support to make it to the top. TBOSS is the main star who lost. I hope she was taken out of South Africa with a private jet or maybe a submarine! Beauty is not everything, baby.
Lesson four: Marketing helps. Branding is everything. Propaganda is profitable. Packaging is nice. Big Brother Naija is nothing but marketing, branding, propaganda, and packaging. A reality show is supposed to be nothing but reality, virtual reality as it happens, but let no one deceive you, everything that happened in the 70 days of BBNaija was packaged, marketed, carefully branded and manipulated. Ebuka, the Big Brother, thumbs up, the scenic designers, kudos, the content developers, three hearty cheers, Multichoice, you guys are the smartest capitalists around, well done! The finale was a bit overdone though, dragged out, over-delayed. Tiwa Savage (hey baby, watch that growing fat around your waist and thigh), Tuface (thanks TuBaba but next time tell Annie to twerk for us- what was that!). In all, the power of television was well advertised.
Now the hard knocks: I rate the theatre high but I consider the whole show a sham, a 419 manipulative effort by a corporate agency, long overdue for an ethical review and scrutiny, a bad influence on corporate ethics. The owners of the programme are just a bunch of insultive, manipulative and exploitative capitalists, feeding on public need for distraction and the negligence of the authorities. Big Brother Naija 2017 is something that should never happen again in the shape we have seen. If Multichoice as a corporate investor wants to make a contribution to Nigeria, it must find ways of doing so in more meaningful forms.
Reality shows have become an established form on television, but whereas there are reality shows that promote talent, music, human capability and genius, enhanced relationships, and intellect, Multichoice, through its Big Brother Naija and Big Brother Africa franchises seems committed to the promotion of base values, chiefly adultery, prostitution, love of money, nudity and sex. What just ended as Big Brother Naija 2017 was nothing other than the corralling of some human beings into a zoo, pressured to behave like nothing but animals. The organizers made money devaluing other human beings. Multichoice and Payporte, the sponsors, turned alcohol and pornography into legitimate sport.
TBOSS and the other girls kissed and got groped by the boys on live television putting their upbringing to shame. TBOSS, who claimed she didn’t need the money even exposed her breasts on live television more than once. I have seen better breasts TBOSS. I am not too sure those private jet owners will be excited by your fluffy, South-looking, slightly bigger than mangoes breasts. If the same men see bigger assets, I mean, those interesting Ojiakor-like ones that look like papayas, pineapples and watermelons, they will not send private jets, they will deploy submarines and fighter jets!
And that ‘s why you got N500k in the end, way back behind Bisola with her hard facial features, and Efe whose victory is based on poverty logistics and appeal. But I have no doubt that TBOSS will end up doing better in the larger, outside market than the other finalists, because even those who did not vote for her, know in their hearts that she represents the message of the programme.
It is a wrong message and that is why Big Brother Naija drew more audience in Southern Nigeria than in the North. In the last week of the programme,, every town in Southern Nigeria was seized by the #BBNaija fever. Prayers were offered in churches for Efe. One lady threatened to commit suicide if Efe did not win. Another one said she would not stop crying until Efe won. Nollywood stars declared support for housemates. There was Team Bisola, Team Efe, EfeNation, TBOSSNation, TeamDebbieRise (small), TeamMarvis (even smaller). There were public processions even in universities. We were told how to vote. Twitter was on fire. What I saw was nothing but sheer madness.
T-shirts were printed. One musician turned his personal car into a billboard. Nigeria became a mad house because of one reality television show. It looked like mass hypnotism at work.
But it should not be allowed to happen again. BBNaija should not be hosted and staged in South Africa as has been the case. Multichoice, Payporte and their partners made crazy money and got brand promotion off the back and sweat of Nigerians. Do the maths; we got peanuts in return. We were told BBNaija could not be staged in Nigeria due to electricity problems so the studio had to be in South Africa. And the Nigerian government looked the other way. Wawu! All the billions that the South Africans are running away with, after giving our boy a Kia SUV and some N25m, who is going to collect the Value Added Tax on that? Nigeria or South Africa? See the real Gobbe! All the staff who worked on the programme with extremely marginal exception were South Africans. Where were the Nigerians? Abi, Lobatan oh.
The Nigerian government must assert itself. Nobody henceforth must brand anything involving primary production, Nigerian off Nigerian soil. We can’t get far by wearing made-in-Nigerian clothes on Mondays and Wednesdays, turning the country into an extension of Nollywood, but we can gain a lot by insisting that economic production and profit based on Nigerian talent and resource must have significant Nigerian content.
Congratulations Efe; the grace of God is forever sufficient, but sorry Nigeria.
Aliko Dangote at 60
Alhaji Aliko Dangote is 60 and understandably the entire country is busy paying tributes. He is the richest man in Africa, but more than that he is one of the most successful, forward-looking and resourceful entrepreneurs in the entire continent. He has investments and connections virtually everywhere.
I think a special remark should be made about his less known attribute – his humility and humanity. Aliko Dangote, for all those who have related with him closely, is a very humble man. His life is not driven by money, but belief in hardwork and the impact that he is able to make. He is helpful, supportive and kind, always believing he can make a difference. I offer a special testimony.
Many years ago, before the Abuja job, I used to visit Aliko at home, sometimes on my own and sometimes with my family. On one occasion, he gave my first son money as he saw us off to the door. It was that kind of money that caused a fight between father and son. My son wanted to hold on to it, and there I was insisting the boy must hand over the money because it was enough to pay his and his sibling’s school fees. The innocent boy said the money was for him. How could it have been for him? We resolved the fight, big fight, right there, with Aliko pretending not to notice.
On another occasion, Aliko asked if I had built a house and I told him I was building a house somewhere in Ajah. This was in 2006. He said we should go there. He jumped into my miserable Tokunbo car and followed me to the uncompleted building. He walked round the building and asked me what I wanted. He ended up giving me enough cement to complete the house and the money to paint it. He told me I should contact him if I wanted to build any other house, but after that other house, I stopped bothering him, because it was obvious the bricklayers knew cement was free, and they were busy taking advantage.
I went to Abuja to work. The true story of that job is best told by Aliko Dangote, Mr Alex Ibru, Rotimi Amaechi, Femi Otedola and Ojogbane Adegbe. They supported me as best as they could without interference. It was Oronto Douglas who made the phone call. One day, every story will be told. Thank you Alhaji, for being a friend and a brother. Thank you. May you see many more seasons.
Good day! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
Link exchange is nothing else except it is simply placing the other person’s web site link on your page at proper place and other person will also do similar for you.
What’s up to every one, the contents present at this web page are actually amazing for people experience, well, keep up the nice work fellows.
Remarkable! Its truly amazing paragraph, I have got much clear idea on the topic of from this paragraph.
Hi, I log on to your blog on a regular basis. Your humoristic style is witty, keep it up!
Hi there, I enjoy reading all of your post. I like to write a little comment to support you.
I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You are amazing! Thanks!
Hello, I do think your blog may be having browser compatibility issues. Whenever I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Aside from that, excellent blog!
Can you tell us more about this? I’d love to find out some additional information.
Yes! Finally someone writes about %keyword1%.
Asking questions are genuinely fastidious thing if you are not understanding anything entirely, except this paragraph presents good understanding even.
That is a really good tip especially to those new to the blogosphere. Brief but very precise information… Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read post!
wonderful submit, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this sector don’t notice this. You must proceed your writing. I am confident, you have a great readers’ base already!
What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & help different customers like its helped me. Great job.
Every weekend i used to visit this web page, for the reason that i want enjoyment, as this this site conations genuinely fastidious funny material too.
Pretty part of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually loved account your weblog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing for your augment and even I achievement you access constantly fast.
Everything is very open with a precise explanation of the issues. It was definitely informative. Your site is very useful. Thank you for sharing!
I love what you guys are up too. This type of clever work and coverage! Keep up the amazing works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my own blogroll.
Paragraph writing is also a fun, if you be acquainted with then you can write if not it is complex to write.
I don’t know if it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else encountering problems with your blog. It looks like some of the written text within your posts are running off the screen. Can somebody else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This may be a issue with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen previously. Thanks
I’m really inspired along with your writing skills and also with the structure in your blog. Is this a paid topic or did you customize it your self? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s uncommon to see a great blog like this one these days..
Simply wish to say your article is as amazing. The clearness on your put up is simply spectacular and i could assume you are an expert in this subject. Well together with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep updated with imminent post. Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work.
Just want to say your article is as amazing. The clearness in your submit is just great and that i could think you’re an expert in this subject. Well together with your permission allow me to clutch your feed to keep up to date with drawing close post. Thanks one million and please keep up the rewarding work.
Very good info. Lucky me I ran across your website by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve book marked it for later!
I was suggested this website via my cousin. I’m not certain whether this post is written by way of him as nobody else understand such special about my trouble. You’re wonderful! Thank you!
Amazing blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any ideas? Appreciate it!
My brother recommended I might like this web site. He was entirely right. This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your further write ups thank you once again.
I don’t know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else experiencing issues with your website. It seems like some of the written text in your posts are running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This could be a problem with my web browser because I’ve had this happen before. Kudos
Hi there! I know this is somewhat off-topic however I needed to ask. Does building a well-established blog such as yours take a large amount of work? I’m completely new to running a blog but I do write in my journal on a daily basis. I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my own experience and thoughts online. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or tips for new aspiring blog owners. Appreciate it!
That is very interesting, You’re an excessively professional blogger. I’ve joined your feed and sit up for looking for extra of your excellent post. Additionally, I’ve shared your website in my social networks
Asking questions are truly nice thing if you are not understanding something fully, but this piece of writing provides good understanding even.
Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
If some one desires expert view regarding running a blog after that i suggest him/her to pay a quick visit this webpage, Keep up the pleasant work.
Hey there! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when browsing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to resolve this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share. With thanks!
Good answers in return of this query with real arguments and telling everything regarding that.
What’s up, all is going sound here and ofcourse every one is sharing information, that’s in fact fine, keep up writing.
My family members always say that I am wasting my time here at web, however I know I am getting experience every day by reading such pleasant content.
Thanks for the good writeup. It if truth be told was once a entertainment account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?
After going over a few of the articles on your website, I really like your technique of blogging. I book-marked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Take a look at my website as well and tell me your opinion.
Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any suggestions?
Hello, all is going nicely here and ofcourse every one is sharing data, that’s actually good, keep up writing.
I really like reading through an article that can make people think. Also, thanks for allowing for me to comment!
I am curious to find out what blog platform you happen to be using? I’m having some minor security problems with my latest blog and I would like to find something more safeguarded. Do you have any solutions?
Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it, you happen to be a great author. I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will eventually come back from now on. I want to encourage one to continue your great posts, have a nice day!
Actually when someone doesn’t know afterward its up to other viewers that they will assist, so here it takes place.
Post writing is also a fun, if you be acquainted with afterward you can write if not it is complex to write.
This article will help the internet viewers for building up new weblog or even a weblog from start to end.
Hello! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for %keyword%
Howdy exceptional website! Does running a blog similar to this require a massive amount work? I have virtually no knowledge of computer programming but I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyways, should you have any recommendations or techniques for new blog owners please share. I know this is off topic but I just had to ask. Thanks!
I’ve read some good stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you set to create this kind of fantastic informative site.
Wow, wonderful blog format! How long have you been running a blog for? you made running a blog glance easy. The overall look of your site is great, as neatly as the content!
I used to be able to find good information from your content.
Hi! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when viewing from my iphone4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to correct this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share. With thanks!
Yes! Finally something about %keyword1%.
Hey there I am so happy I found your webpage, I really found you by mistake, while I was browsing on Aol for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a marvelous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the awesome work.
At this time it seems like Movable Type is the best blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
Wow, that’s what I was seeking for, what a information! present here at this blog, thanks admin of this web site.
It’s an awesome paragraph in support of all the internet viewers; they will take benefit from it I am sure.
Hi there, this weekend is good for me, as this moment i am reading this enormous informative piece of writing here at my house.
I have read so many content about the blogger lovers however this paragraph is in fact a nice paragraph, keep it up.
Hi there, I discovered your site by means of Google even as looking for a comparable matter, your web site got here up, it seems to be great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hello there, simply turned into aware of your blog thru Google, and located that it is really informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate in the event you proceed this in future. A lot of folks will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
I could not refrain from commenting. Very well written!
It’s truly very difficult in this active life to listen news on TV, so I only use the web for that reason, and obtain the latest news.
This is the right blog for anyone who hopes to find out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I actually would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject that has been written about for ages. Wonderful stuff, just wonderful!
It’s actually a nice and useful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
Good day! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
Do you have a spam problem on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; we have created some nice practices and we are looking to swap strategies with other folks, why not shoot me an e-mail if interested.
It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or advice. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more things about it!
It is not my first time to go to see this website, i am browsing this web page dailly and take nice facts from here daily.
First off I want to say great blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your mind prior to writing. I have had difficulty clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas out there. I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips? Thanks!
Hi! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share. Thanks!