Entertainment
Meet 20 Big Brother Titans’ Housemates Competing for $100,000 Grand Prize
The much-anticipated television reality show, Big Brother Titans, began with a lot of excitement on Sunday.
Unlike the usual Big Brother Naija format which features only Nigerians, and Big Brother Africa, which has housemates from across the continent, this particular show is open to only Nigerians and South Africans.
The first housemate to be unveiled was a 25-year-old South African female called Cossy. She described herself as a fun-loving, but also ‘serious’ person.
The second housemate to be unveiled was a Nigerian, Yemi Cregx. He stated that he was looking forward to learning more about South Africans in the course of the show.
The duo wasted no time in striking up a conversation. At a point, Cregx helped Cossy to adjust her wig; an action that resonated on social media, with many people posting about it.
Other South African housemates are Juicy Jay, Nelisa, Mmeli, Khosi, Ipeleng, Thabang, Yaya, Khehla, Tsatii, and Justin.
Nigerian contestants are Olivia, Blaqboy, Nana, Marven, Jaypee, Ebubu, Jenni O, Kanaga, and Yvonne.
Expectedly, there has been a lot of buzz about the show, especially as it is coming at a time when the country is preparing for general elections.
In a speech by John Ugbe, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, the organiser of the show, he stated that due to the popularity of the show, it was practically inevitable not to pair Nigerians and South Africans in one house.
Reacting to criticism that the show will distract Nigerian youths from the forthcoming general elections, he maintained that Nigerian youths knew their priorities.
He said, “As two of the biggest economies in Africa, it was only a matter of time before something like this would come up. Just like there has been a clash of music genres such as afrobeats (Nigeria) and amapiano (South Africa), there was bound to be something of this nature.”
In the course of the show, there was also an announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission educating Nigerians on the process of collecting their permanent voter’s cards.
Viewers were also treated to pictures of the expansive and well-designed house the contestants will call home for the coming weeks.
The reality show will run for 72 days (over 10 weeks). It also retains some of the Big Brother features, such as diary sessions, Head of House games, Friday night parties, and tasks.
It will be co-hosted by Nigerian, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, and Lawrence Maleke, a South African.
Guests at the live screening of the show include Saga, Dorathy Bachor and Gerald (Nigerian Idol winner). Self-acclaimed Koko master, D’banj also performed at the event.
The last edition of BBN (Level Up) aired from July 23 to October 2, 2022. It was won by Phyna, and she smiled to the bank with a grand prize of N100m; while the last BBA held almost a decade ago in 2014. The winner, Tayo Faniran (Nigerian) went home with $300,000 worth of prizes.
The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria has voiced strong objection to ban imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s trending song, “Tell Your Papa.”
The IPMAN President, Pretty Okafor, emphasised that the ban was likely to backfire, as it only serves to amplify the song’s reach and relevance in light of the current socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians.
Okafor stated: “The first major mistake is banning the song because it’s going to make the song even go viral right now. Those who haven’t heard about the song or haven’t even listened to it will go now to look for the song and will start promoting it. The song has practically pinched the government somewhere, that’s why they ordered for the ban. So, there is already a mistake that has been made by the NBC or even the government by paying attention to that particular song.”
Discussing PMAN’s position on the matter, Okafor remarked, “We don’t have the power to offer the artiste support right now because it is a very sensitive issue, so, we need to be careful. We will just be watching because people are dying and the suffering is too much. How do we repair the economy? We cannot pretend that all is well. The song is telling us the truth, and there is nothing wrong with that song.”
The NBC barred Nigerian radio and television stations from airing the trending song, “Tell Your Papa,” by popular rapper Eedris Abdulkareem, citing its “objectionable nature.”
In a memo dated April 9, 2025, and issued by the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, the commission declared the track “Not To Be Broadcast” under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
This section prohibits content deemed inappropriate, offensive, or in breach of public decency from being aired on Nigerian broadcast platforms.
According to NBC, while the song had gained momentum across social media platforms, its lyrical content failed to meet the standards of responsible broadcasting.
The statement titled, “Restriction on broadcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem,” reads, “The National Broadcasting Commission has identified the song ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, currently trending on social media, as content deemed inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature.
” It is, therefore, classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as it violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“The commission requests that your station exercises discretion and refrains from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards.”
The controversial song, released earlier this week, targets Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, calling on him to confront his father over the worsening socio-economic conditions in Nigeria.
In the track titled “Tell Your Papa,” which was shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Abdulkareem delivered a blunt message, painting a grim picture of the hardships facing everyday Nigerians.
The song comes in response to Seyi Tinubu’s recent comments in Adamawa State, where he described his father as “the greatest President in Nigeria’s history.”
In the hard-hitting lyrics, Abdulkareem raps, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.”
“Seyi, how far? I swear your Papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians.
“Seyi, try travel by road without your security, make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, last Sunday sponsored the premier of Radio Voice, the much-anticipated movie produced by Richard Mofe-Damijo.
At the event held at the Alliance Francaise, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mofe-Damijo described the movie as “the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. It’s about the life of people on radio and their challenges and the things they have to go through; cyber bullying and the like, and succeeding against all odds. I don’t want to reveal everything about it; it’s a movie everyone needs to watch”.
Explaining why he is venturing into movie production, he explained, “It’s time when it’s time, you know. I’ve produced before but this is the first time in the new era, so to speak”.
Since launch in 2003, Globacom has carved a niche as the biggest corporate supporter of Nigeria’s entertainment industry. The company has signed on many musicians, actors and comedians as brand ambassadors, sponsored several entertainment reality shows including X Factor, Glo Naija Sings, Battle of the Year and Dance with Peter, and also hosted several music and comedy shows across Nigerian cities to avail talents in the industry the grace to their gifts.
Radio Voice is a motivational story of resilience, passion and transformation. It features notable Nollywood giants including Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), who equally produced the movie; Nse Ikpe Etim, Nancy Isime, Deyemi Okanlawon, Damilola Adegbite and Timini Egbuson.
Radio Voice has the support of the Office of the Vice President as it is meant to complement the Federal Government’s investment in the Creative Arts and Digital Transformation.
Afrobeat music singer, Davido, has announced that his Church wedding with Chioma will take place in August, 2025.
The singer disclosed this in a recent interview with The Breakfast Club.
He likened the upcoming event with the traditional marriage in Nigeria, which he said was a “Carnival”.
Davido said: “I’m doing my white wedding in Miami (USA) in August. The wedding I did was traditional; it was like a carnival in Nigeria, like a holiday. The whole world stood still. Me and my wife’s relationship was in the public eye, especially after I did that one song.
“So, a lot of things happened. Even apart from losing our child, I messed up a lot of times so that full circle moment everyone was like finally she can get what she deserves.”
