Big Brother in search of housemates

OR lovers of reality TV show, this is an exciting time as M-Net has unveiled plans for this year’s Big Brother Africa, which kicks off in May. To be part of the housemates, interested participants are expected to enter between now and February 14, when the entry would be closed. Entry is open to the same 14 countries that participated last year, with the exception of Liberia, which will be replaced by Ethiopia for this year.

The replacement, according to AfricaMagic and series producers Endemol SA, is a deliberate attempt to rotate certain countries into and out of the format. The reason for this is to ensure that a wide range of countries can be included in different editions of the series. Based on the changes, participating countries this year are Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In line with the tradition of the pan-African reality TV show, entry is open to all persons over the age of 21, who are citizens of one of the participating countries and who either have a valid passport or will be able to obtain one by the end of March. Also, producers are looking for persons, who are fluent in English, entertaining and passionate about the Big Brother experience. Of particular importance to the selection team are the qualities of tolerance, determination and enthusiasm. Open-mindedness, bold and adventurous are added advantages.

Meanwhile, entry forms are already available immediately at www.africamagic.tv/bigbrother. While interested participants are expected to complete the online submission form, printed entry forms will also be available at MultiChoice offices in the participating countries from February 1, 2013.

As with previous editions of the show, the new season will be full of twists and turns.

“As always, we won’t say much about the new season but I can confirm that we’ve added a new element that I think will get the hearts of viewers racing. The fact that the fans truly adore the show is all the motivation we need to keep it fresh and fun,” M-Net Africa Managing Director, Biola Alabi assured.

According to the MD of Endemol, Sivan Pillay who said, “our long-term association with M-Net is very much a partnership, a marriage of sorts. We understand what they desire for their audiences, and they trust us enough to let us develop innovative twists and surprises. So, the process is quite harmonious and very exciting, as all good relationships should be. I’m hopeful that this year we are creating a red-hot show that will include familiar trademarks like nominations and evictions alongside a very special new development.”

Previous editions of Big Brother Africa have boasted huge cash prizes for winners and this year the winner will walk away with USD300,000. The show will be screened live 24/7 on DStv channels 197 and 198, while GOtv audiences will see highlights of the programme, which begins on Sunday, May 26 and is scheduled to run for 91 days.

For Valentine’s Day, Karyne White comes to town

As part of activities to mark this year’s St Valentine day, Atunda, one of Nigeria’s foremost entertainment promoters, is bringing R&B singer, Karyne White to La Campagne Tropicana, Lagos. The coming of the platinum singer coincides with the launch of the annual Queen of Queens, also billed for the same venue. The Queen of Queens pageant is an initiative aimed at bringing together winners of all other pageants organised annually in the country.

According to Dr. Wale Akinboboye, founder of Atunda Entertainment, “Karyne White was picked among the very many artistes considered for the Valentine Day launch because she possesses one of the most memorable, distinctive voices ever heard in popular music.”

He described White as an accomplished singer/songwriter, who etched herself into music history with her smash hit song, Superwoman. That song, he said, made international waves, selling over a million units, being certified Gold and named the Billboard R&B Song of the Year in 1989.

Akinboboye also noted that the launch would also give some established and upcoming Nigerian artistes a rare opportunity to perform and hobnob with this international super star and enigma. Nollywood stars are among ‘A’ list guests expected to grace the occasion billed for February 14.

AMAA nomination holds in Malawi

After weeks of negotiations, the president of Republic of Malawi, Her Excellency Joyce Banda, has agreed to host filmmakers and celebrities from different parts of Africa, who will be visiting her territory for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Nomination Party. Billed for March 16, the build up for the night starts from 14 and ends on 17; it will host the business and political class in Malawi, celebrities from across Africa and their counterparts in the Southern African.

While speaking on the project, the AMAA director of administration, Mr. Tony Anih informed that the government and people of Malawi are very excited at the prospect of having movie icons and other players in the motion picture industry coming to the country for the nomination event.

The AMAA nominations is an event where films that make it into the 25 categories of the awards are announced ahead of the main award ceremony, which is billed to hold in April this year. In the last six years, AMAA has deliberately moved the nomination events from one country to the other within the continent.

Anih stated,  “AMAA is a continental brand and reward system for motion picture practitioners. While the award ceremony usually takes place in Nigeria, we always move the nomination events from country to country. It is our way of promoting the Africanness of the award and also celebrating our culture and diversity. We have had the nominations previously in Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa. This year we decided to come to Malawi because of the level of popularity and acceptability of African films, most especially Nollywood and Gollywood movies in Malawi”.

Meanwhile, President Banda of Malawi has endorsed the Film in a Box project of the Academy. To this end the Africa Film Academy will start a training programme from first week in the month of March targeted at the young men and women of Malawi, who are interested in making a career in any aspect of filmmaking.

The Nigerian Broadcaster’s Nite holds in February

Coming on the heels of a successful hosting of the 2012 edition of the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) in Lagos, the organisers of the event have perfected plans to further celebrate and honour winners at the NBMA. Tagged The Nigerian Broadcaster’s Nite, the event, according to the founder, Kazeem Popoola is expected to further celebrate the achievements of Nigerian broadcast industry as well as its practitioners.

Every last Thursday of the month, one of the winners from the NBMA would be selected and hosted at one of the biggest lounges/clubs in the state. Beyond the extensive celebration, the event would also have a red carpet reception and an award of certificate to the winner to commemorate the NBMA plaque earlier won.

Popoola said, “We are giving this monthly gig a national appeal by taking it round all the states of the federation so that NBMA winners from other states would have the opportunity to be celebrated right in the cities where they are popular. The Nigerian Broadcasters Nite will be loaded with surprises and an elaborate coverage from the media”.

The maiden edition of the event has been scheduled to hold on February 23, 2013 and Popoola dropped what many would consider a teaser at this point, saying, “As we eagerly begin the countdown to the exciting event, the question on the lips of everyone is who gets chosen or picked for the maiden edition?”