adminMelissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
THE ninth edition of Africa’s biggest reality series Big Brother Africa (BBA) kicks off in September with auditions for housemates set to start at the end of the month in Malawi and Nigeria. Auditions for the Zimbabwean representative will once again be held at the Meikles Hotel in Harare on July 12 and 13.
Aspiring candidates from outside Harare will be expected to travel to the capital for the auditions as they are only held in each country’s capital city.
Unlike previous years where aspiring candidates had to fill in a taxing entry form to enter, this year’s entry process is slightly different.
It seems the entry forms process has been scrapped as a statement issued by M-Net last week stated that all potential housemates needed to do was to go straight to the audition venues to stand a chance to represent their countries in the show.
Back then, to enter BBA, one needed to fill in a taxing six page form which would be sent to South Africa for vetting by the BBA producers.
Only a few would then be short listed for interviews. Afterwards, the auditions would be opened to the public, making it unfair for those who would have gone through the hustle of filling the entry form.
Those interested in participating in BBA and sharing their lives and lifestyles with the rest of Africa including bathing when everyone is watching, need to be over the age of 21 and have a valid passport.
Producers are looking preferably for open-minded, bold and adventurous characters. Previous editions of Big Brother Africa have boasted huge cash prizes for winners and this year’s is no different as the prize money is $300,000.
The person who will be selected by the producers will only be known by the public on the day the show launches as they are not meant to reveal their participation to anyone once they are selected.
But, they will have to first undergo medical checks and if they pass, they will be in the running for the $300,000 prize money.
Fourteen countries, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe will be represented at this year’s edition.
Big Brother Africa 9 will be screened live 24/7 on DStv channels 197 and 198 while GOtv audiences will see highlights of the show, which begins on Sunday, 7 September and is scheduled to run for 91 days.
It remains to be seen if Zimbabwe’s representative will win the hearts of Africans and keep viewers glued to their TV screens. Last year, Zimbabwe was represented by Pokello Nare and Hakeem Mandaza who were both involved in relationships in the house.
The show was won by Namibia’s Dillish Mathews.
Online Reporter