By Gbenga Bada
The ninth edition of popular TV reality show, Big Brother Africa is set to kick off on October 5, a month after its initially scheduled kick-off.
The show, which is viewed by a large audience across the continent and will be tagged Big Brother Hotshots, will run for 91 days, after which a winner will emerge.
The show is anchored for the ninth consecutive time by Nigerian on-air-personality, IK Osakioduwa.
Since Thursday, Septemer 18, 2014, the organizers have been unveiling contestants for this year’s edition of the reality show.
Here are the contestants that have been unveiled between Friday, September 19, 2014 and Monday, September 22, 2014.
Kacey Moore
Age: 29
Country: Ghana
Born in Accra, Kacey Moore is a married poet and songwriter who has a daughter. He enjoys Banku and Okro stew and says his favourite books are the Bible, the dictionary, and the thesaurus! Kacey Moore also likes the music of Usher and Lauryn Hill.
He entered Big Brother Hotshots as a business decision, seeking exposure to the rest of the world. Kacey Moore promises viewers ‘a real person with no fakeness’. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll buy houses for his wife and mother and set up a recording studio so he can record and release his own album under his own label.
Laveda
Age: 23
Country: Tanzania
Bachelor of Arts & Social Sciences graduate, Laveda was born in Dar Es Salaam, Ethipoia. She’s single and describes herself as ‘eccentric, loving, caring, simple and fun’. Laveda is the eldest of three children and she has a younger brother and sister. She says her mom is her role model, because she has moulded her over the years and inspired her in different ways ‘through the struggles and joy of life’.
She entered Big Brother Hotshots to be a role model and act as a voice for Africa’s youth. Laveda says viewers can expect ‘massive entertainment’ from her and that if she wins, she’ll give her mom some money, ‘surprise disadvantaged children’, travel and invest the rest.
JJ
Age: 23
Country: Zimbabwe
JJ calls himself ‘an entertainer’ on the back of his work as a ‘singer, rapper, actor, songwriter and director’. His inspiration behind entering Big Brother Hotshots is the platform the show provides. ‘It’s a necessary foundation for me to be able to produce my own music even if I don’t win the money,’ he says.
He says that viewers can expect to be entertained, and that they’ll also have a gym partner every morning. If he wins the money, he’ll fix up his parents’ house, invest in his career by working on his first international album and give some money to charity.
Goitse
Age: 22
Sex: Female
Country: Botswana
The Bachelor of Fine Arts theatre student, Goitse hails from Mahalapye in Botswana. ‘Home, Sweet Home’ is her favourite place – ‘the comfort, a home-cooked meal and my family just make it my favourite,’ she says.
Goitse says she entered Big Brother Hotshots for the adventure. ‘People from different countries in Africa, all under one roof, no contact with the outside world in any way? Now that’s amazing!’ she says. In her quest for the prize, she won’t pretend to be someone she’s not and if she wins, she’ll use the money to open a dance studio. ‘That will be a dream come true,’ she says before adding: ‘I haven’t decided on what else’.
Esther
Age: 23
Sex: Female
Country: Uganda
Pint-sized student, Esther hails from Uganda’s Nsambya. She says she entered Big Brother Hotshots to connect with people from different countries and to help her expose her talents, something she sees as ‘a very big inspiration’. She’s looking forward to giving Africa the chance to see her ‘true self’ and describes herself as ‘meek, bubbly, creative, truthful and loving’.
Idris
Age: 21
Sex: Male
Country: Tanzania
Idris is a photographer from Arusha in Tanzania. His favourite books are ‘anything by Dan Brown’ and he enjoys watching The Colbert Report, Drunk History, The Daily Show and The Ellen Degeneres Show on TV.
He was inspired to enter Big Brother Hotshots because he wants to inspire people and make a name for myself in the process,’ he says. He feels ‘thrilled, excited and accomplished, totally special’ that the continent will be watching him on the show and describes himself as ‘smart, charming, funny, flirty and creative’.