Last night (06.05.2012) saw the return of one of the continents’ most popular reality TV shows, Big Brother Africa. The seventh season of BBA is called Big Brother StarGame and it has a new twist… contestants have come in pairs to stay in the house for the next 90 days with the chance of winning USD300 000.

Besides this twist, Big Brother StarGame also has two separate houses. One is called Downsville, where the ordinary housemates stay, and the other house is called Upperville, where the celebrities stay.

Upperville has seven celebrities from various African countries; namely Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa and they’re all excited and ready to play the game.

South Africa is represented by socialite, model and businesswoman Babalwa Mneno or “Barbz”, who’s said her reason to get into the house was to rebrand herself and make sure that her fans haven’t forgotten her.

Goldie, a pop icon from Nigeria said, “I am ready to enjoy myself and play the game and even though Nigeria has won before I still believe there is a chance to win again.”

The Big Brother bug has bitten our own South African television personality Kuli Roberts who says for the next 90 days, she will be glued to her screen enjoying the antics of the housemates.

Kuli had a taste of Big Brother when she and other representatives from the media, including well-known celebrity blogger Clayton Morar, went into the house for 24 hours on the 3^rd of May before the official launch last night.

“Being in the house was an awesome experience but I don’t think I would be able to survive the 90 days,” Clayton said. The media stayed in the Downville house and they got to experience everything from the 24/7 cameras, carrying around the microphones and the various tasks set by Big Brother.

Zalebs contributor Molife Kumona was part of the experience and really got to grips with the Big Brother lifestyle during his stay. “The experience taught me how disciplined and focused one needs to be to survive not only a day, but the entire 90 days in the house. I have a greater sense of respect for all the contestants.”

Big Brother StarGame has also introduced a new system of nominating housemates for eviction. Housemates will no longer be nominating each other for eviction; it will now be done by a random nomination mechanism monitored by an independent auditor. The nomination mechanism randomly selects two balls for two countries and those housemates are up for eviction.

As Big Brother host, Nigeria’s IK Osakioduwa made the announcement; he drew two balls for Tanzania and Zimbabwe whose housemates have now been nominated for eviction. The general response towards the new way of nominating has been met with mixed reviews, however, there’s no doubt everyone is excited to see just how the game will continue.

You can catch all the action on channel 198 on DSTV at 8pm (CAT). It’s bound to be yet another interesting season of this one-of-a-kind reality sho

By Molife Kumona.

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