Big Brother Africa

infobox television
show_name = Big Brother Africa


caption = "Big Brother Africa"
rating =
format = Interactive reality
runtime = Varies
creator = flagicon|Netherlands Endemol
starring = Various housemates
country = RSA
network = DStv Channel 37
first_aired = 2003, 2007 - present
website = http://www.mnetafrica.com/bigbrother/

Big Brother Africa is a television program produced by Endemol. It involves 12 countries within Africa (Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe) each producing a 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 first season aired in 2003; the second started on 5th August, 2007.

The house is located in Randburg, South Africa.

Big Brother Africa 1

The first season of Big Brother Africa began on May 25th, 2003 and ended on September 7th of the same year, lasting 106 days.

wap with the Big Brother house in the United Kingdom

Big Brother Africa contestant Gaetano Kagwa swapped places with Big Brother UK contestant Cameron Stout. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3010872.stm] .

Gaetano (known as Gae), a Ugandan law student was chosen to join UK Big Brother after passing a cocktail-making challenge.

Gaetano caused upset in the Big Brother UK house when he called gluttonous contestant Tania 'Piggy', causing her to walk off in tears and threaten to leave the house for good.

Housemates

Big Brother Africa 2

The second series of Big Brother Africa began airing on August 5th 2007 and ended on November 11th 2007. The contestants were chosen from the same 12 countries as the first season. Tanzania's Richard Bezuidenhout won the series along with the prize of $100,000, beating Nigerian Ofunneka Malokwu to second place.

Controversy came up after Ofunneka was sexually assaulted by Richard when all the housemates were drunk. The producers of the show deny this, stating it was with Ofunneka's consent, but fellow housemate Maureen screamed for Big Brother's help after she tried to get Richard off Ofunneka. Richard was taken into the diary room while paramedics came in to help the girls. No further coment has been made about the issue, especially as Ofunneka had passed out and remembered nothing of what happened. (In the Australian version of the show, the male housemate who sexually assaulted a female housemate was evicted).

Newly-wed Richard carried out an affair with Angolan housemate Tatiana during their stay in the house. This angered Richard's Canadian wife, who threatened him with divorce. Another housemate, Malawian radio DJ Code, managed to seduce all his female housemates. Unknown to him, his Dutch girlfriend was pregnant with his child, and she surprised him by showing up at his eviction. Richard and Code were eventually forgiven by their respective partners.

Season 2 of Big Brother Africa caused a lot of controversy as the producers could not deal with a lot of issues that came up in the house, including bullying by South African Lerato Sengadi. Indecent sexual acts by Namibian housemate Meryl and Ghanian Kweku were another talking point. There was also a spat of violence when Kenyan housemate Jeff Anthony hit Ofunneka in the face.

The show was criticized for not showing any positive values to young people all over the continent. Channel O's Kabelo "KB" Ngakane hosted the show which lasted 98 days.

Big Brother Africa 3

Big Brother Africa is currently running for a third season. It started on the 24th August 2008 and will last 91 Days, ending on the Sunday 23rd November 2008.

The twelve countries (Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe) have returned again. The voting system will be the same as Big Brother Africa 1, and the prize is USD 100 000. [http://www.mnetafrica.com/bigbrother/faq.asp]

External links

* http://www.mnetafrica.com/bigbrother