BIG BROTHER NAIJA: HIT OR MISS?
When I read George Orwell's 1984 in 2007, I had no idea there was already a reality show created with the name of the non existent powerful game changer in the novel.
"BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU"
As much as I found the book boring, that mantra used to send chills down my spine as it signifies the consciousness of the omniscient character. But I learnt over time that unlike the party controlled by big brother in the novel which prohibits free sex, thought and any expression of individuality, the show thrives on it. Unlike in the book where every act of rebel was illegal, the show flourishes on its rebellious housemates.
According to the organizers of the show, the show is important for its entertainment qualities, and it's ability to showcase ordinary people from different walks of life. The show then came back in 2017 to inform the Nigerian audience about the culture and multitasking jobs carried out in the house. The best thing about the show is the huge sum of money to be won.
There is normally some sort of pay off but how much is enough to compensate you for taking you away from your life for 3 months, make millions of naira off you through adverts, subscriptions and sales and then pay you a measly sum. Is that the end game for immorality, nudity and a record hanging over your head forever?
What is real about a group of people desperately trying to appear unbothered by a 24 hours surveillance shown to million of viewers including their family and friends? The first time I saw anything about the show at all, all I saw was a group of people trying to appear bad ass. I agree that the show can be called a project meant to read human actions and determine their reaction to being placed in any circumstance but can't that be done without the daily show of shame? There's personally a lot of things I can't find myself doing on national television. Getting fondled, kissing, blowing a guy's whistle, getting smashed under the sheets. All with people I've never met before the show and will probably never meet again after the show. There's no place for the modest, shy and reserved on the show as they will definitely be evicted for not creating enough entertainment and excitement. I can't create entertainment for a group of people who would never wish to be caught dead in my position.
The show dwells so much on sexuality of the housemates and their access to alcohol, cigarettes among other thing which threatens to eliminate what the creator of the show wanted to bring to the table - a fusion of African culture. I have observed that most people watch the show because of its ability to provide satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune, humiliation, nudity and show of shame. There's nothing like a precious insight into human condition; it only makes some of the viewers feel better about their own unfilmed lives.
Big brother Africa or Naija as the case may be does not really have anything special to it that makes it indispensable on TV. I read that the Daily Independent Newspaper in 2013 demanded for its ban and censorship as long as it doesn't add anything new on the positive. From findings, the reality show has the chance of sloping the moral views, sense of judgment and attitude of youths towards indecency sexuality, morality, dressing and language.
There should be a campaign for restructuring and resuscitating the show to reflect more indigenous Nigerian culture and serve as a window to showcase it to the outside world. And personally, I worry about the creation of one more wack movie star. Over time, winning reality shows have proven to be an automatic ticket for a space in the movie industry irrespective of how untalented they are.
One more movie star, one more terrible producer, one step towards the degeneration of Nollywood's standards
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