Catch me if you can: Big Brother Africa Season 8 – The Chase is ON! Meet the 28 Housemates for 2013

Big Brother Season 8, tagged “The Chase” is on!  The official opening ceremony started with the performance of  the jam of all jams Khona performed by Mafikizolo. Nigerian online personality and the host of the show, IK Osakioduwa came in on a power bike.

 He was fully kitted in leather and the crowd cheered thunderously. Comedians Tumie Morake from South Africa and ChurchHill from Kenya were invited on stage to go into both houses to give us a sneak peek! We got a chance to see the houses before the housemates got in.Tumie helped herself to the shower and got to popping champagne while in the tub. Tumie went into the Diamond house and Churchill gave us the first insight into the Ruby house. The first Big Brother Africa was in 2003 and 10 years later, Big Brother Africa still has the power to hold Africa spellbound. As soon as the housemates were settled in the house, IK reminded them to start getting to know one another immediately because the first set of evictions is next Sunday. We can’t wait for the game to begin.

Pokello – Zimbabwe Pokello – Zimbabwe Harare-born Pokello has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and Communications and owns a luxury shoe boutique. She enjoys pasta, spaghetti bolognaise and prawn cocktail. She describes herself as “dynamic, captivating, intelligent, beautiful & hilarious” and says that the best thing about her is that she’s head-strong and a woman of real substance. “When I speak, I speak with depth and confidence,” she says. She admires people who are selfless and filled with humility and modesty, disliking disloyalty and betrayal. Asked what viewers can expect from her, she says: “I am beautiful, intelligent, controlling and entertaining. I am funny and witty and I say the most humorous things. Pokello says if she wins the USD 300 000, she’ll buy a big house for her son and herself, send him to a full-time soccer academy in London and invest in her business.  

LK4 – Uganda LK4 – Uganda Towering over the rest of the housemates at 6 feet 5 inches, professional basketball player LK4, is from Kampala. Outside of his achievements on the basketball court, LK4 also has a CPA and a Degree in Marketing. LK4 was inspired to enter Big Brother by his teammates and friends and says he is excited to have Africa watching him. He says that viewers can expect him to make all the ladies fall in love with him, make viewers laugh. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll start building his basketball academy. He describes himself as “compassionate, sexy, conscious, comical and athletic” and his favourite personal quality is his confidence, saying that he’s “the direct reflection of God’s creation”. He likes people who are loyal, humble, confident, honest and intelligent, but dislikes “disloyal, jealous, envious individuals”. His proudest achievements so far are winning the national championship with his team in 2010 and representing his country in Olympic Qualifiers.

Selly – Ghana (In a relationship) Selly – Ghana Selly is an actress from Tema in Accra. She entered Big Brother because of “the mouth-watering prize package” that she says would change her life, and also because she wants more drama in her life to “spice it up more”.She enjoys watching Fashion Police, SpongeBob Squarepants and Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Selly says her boyfriend has influenced her life because he is extremely optimistic about life and has taught her to believe in herself.Describing herself as “spontaneous, kind, sensitive, no-nonsense and adventurous”, Selly dislikes back-biting, fake people and sycophants. She says viewers can expect dancing, cooking and entertainment from her. If she wins the grand prize, she’ll further her education, buy her mom a car, throw a huge party, start her dream business, renovate her mother’s house and buy herself a car.

Bassey – SierraLeone Bassey – Sierra Leone Student, actor and model Bassey is from Freetown, and is single. His favourite foods include rice, cassava leaves and pasta with tomato sauce. His favourite musicians are Rihanna, Beyonce, LMFAO and Justin Bieber. Bassey’s role model is Michael Jackson, “because of the way he handled his career”. His two proudest achievements are graduating from University – and becoming the first of his siblings to do so – and also being nominated in the Youth Excellence Awards. He entered Big Brother for the fame and money, believing that “Biggie changes lives”. He says it’ll be “weird” having so many people watching his every move on TV. If he wins, he’ll buy a house for his family, his dream car, invest in business and produce a movie.

Dellish – Namibia Dellish – Namibia Windhoek-born Dellish is a third year Psychology student with a passion for seafood. She describes herself as “caring, fun, troublesome, loving and adventurous”. Dellish says her best quality is the fact that she’s “very real and straightforward”. She values caring and considerate people and dislikes those who are selfish and lazy. She entered Big Brother because she’s been a fan of the show for some time and promised herself that she would enter as soon as she was old enough. Dillish says it’s a bit scary to know that Africa will be watching her 24/7, but says she’s excited to share her private life and lifestyle with the continent. Dellish says the best thing about Africa is the diverse cultures and “our unity”. Her favourite place in Namibia is Swakopmund and says even though she hasn’t travelled much, a trip to Nigeria last year was “the best ever”. Her grandfather is her role model. “He raised my mom and five of his grandchildren – including myself. He is my hero,” she says.

Angelo – South Africa (Said he can never be faithful to one woman) Angelo – South Africa Dance teacher Angelo Collins entered Big Brother because he realised that life is too short and “one shouldn’t limit the things you want to do”. If he wins the grand prize, he will start a small business, help an orphanage and help his mom and family with a better life. Angelo describes himself as “tall, dark, adventurous and handsome” and attributes his confidence to being relaxed and comfortable in his own skin. He dislikes arrogant, self-centred and rude people, preferring people who are confident and know what they want in life. Viewers can expect “a lot of craziness” from him, believing he has a funny personality and will make people laugh. The best thing about Africa? The people, sunsets, mountains and how different, yet how similar cultural values are. Outside of his home country, he says he loves Mozambique, where he visited some amazing islands.

Fatima – Malawi Fatima – Malawi TV presenter and MC Fatima is from Lilongwe. She enjoys seafood and her favourite book is Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and her favourite TV shows are Game of Thrones and s*x in the City. Fatima lists her father as her role model because he is her source of inspiration and the most honest, straightforward person she knows. The achievement she’s most proud of is giving birth to her daughter. “There is absolutely no feeling in the world that can top bringing another human into the world,” she says. She describes herself as “unique, daring, nurturing, fun and loud” and says she makes friends very easily. Fatima is looking forward to the exposure offered by Big Brother and believes that appearing on the show will be an important stepping stone in her TV presenting career.  

Nando – Tanzania Nando – Tanzania Student Nando says he has never watched Big Brother before and says it feels “normal” that the continent will be watching him 24/7. His friends encouraged him to enter and he says that if he wins the grand prize, he’ll “build an empire”. Aside from the cash, Nando says he wouldn’t mind picking up a few endorsements on the back of his appearance on the show. Describing himself as “young, ambitious, fun and loving”, Nando says he’s never thought about his best quality, but likes people with good personalities. His favourite place in Tanzania is Arusha, and globally, Brazil, because he loves football. He eats everything, likes good music and his favourite TV show is 1000 Ways To Die. His favourite actors are Scarlett Johansson and Martin Lawrence.  

Huddah – Kenya Huddah – Kenya Huddah is a model with a Diploma in Programming. She loves Chinese food, ugali and fish. Huddah’s favourite place in Kenya is Mombasa, and she says the best thing about Africa is the diversified cultures and natural resources. Her favourite place outside Kenya is Miami, because it’s a beautiful place and she loves tropical weather. Her role model is Marilyn Monroe, because “she was intelligent, a go-getter, a sexy woman with a charming smile and also very popular”. Huddah entered Big Brother because she believes it’s a once in a lifetime experience and she felt she really needed to be part of it. “Plus it has brought a lot of opportunities in life for a lot of people,” she says. She says having Africa’s eyes on her 24/7 will make her feel like a star, because she loves the attention. She says that if she wins the USD 300 000, she’ll double the money, expand her brand and build a business empire.

Bimp – Ethiopia Bimp – Ethopia Bimp is from Addis Ababa sees himself as “honest, loyal, dependable and responsible” and says his family are excited to see him on TV. If he wins the big prize, he’d like to open a club or bar in Addis Ababa and triple the money! He’d love to travel and start a TV series about his adventures. Bimp is looking forward to gaining and sharing experiences on Big Brother. He says the best thing about Africa is the people, who he describes as “friendly, fun, welcoming and loving”. He hopes that Africa learns something from watching him 24/7. He wants to represent his country and continent well and do them proud.

Motamma – Botswana (Miss World tourism) Motamma – Botswana Scientific researcher and student Motamma has a BSc in Agriculture and is currently studying further. She says it feels ‘great’ that Africa’s eyes will be on her 24/7. She hasn’t watched previous Seasons of Big Brother, but her friends and colleagues have always kept her up to date. Her favourite foods include pasta dishes and sorghum cooked in milk. Her favourite books are Secret of Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin and Letters to My Children by Jonathan Jansen. Motamma says her favourite place in Botswana is Maun. The best thing about Africa? The fact that it’s rich in resources! Her favourite place outside Botswana is Mauritius, because it appears peaceful and suitable for a romantic getaway.

Neyll- Angola Neyll – Angola Neyll describes himself as “fun, entertaining, unforgettable, intense and unique”. He has a daughter and is single. His favourite actor is Tom Cruise, because he identifies with him. No surprise then, that one of his favourite movies is Mission Impossible! His favourite place in Angola is Mussulo Island because it’s a nice place to have fun and be with family and friends. Neyll says the best thing about Africa is its strong culture that can’t be compared to any other. His role model is his father because he was the person who inspired him and taught him to be a man. Neyll entered Big Brother because “I know how to play the game”. He says viewers can expect surprises from him and will get the chance to see the real Neyll. If he wins the big prize, he’ll give some money to charity and help his family.

Beverly – Nigeria Beverly – Nigeria Beverly is a model from Lagos. She describes herself as “smart, sexy, humble, loyal and crazy”. One of her favourite qualities is her sense of humour. In other people, she values “consistency, cleanliness, truth and humility” and dislikes unkept promises, lies and pretence. Beverley says that viewers can expect “a total packaged African young diva to command the right qualities and characteristics of a blunt, sexy go-getter”. She doesn’t really have any role models, choosing rather to take unique attributes from different people. Asked who has influenced her life most, Beverley says “who I want to influence me all depends on the situation at hand”. Her favourite musicians include John Legend, Kelly Rowland, Phenom and Rihanna.  

Sulu – Zambia Sulu – Zambia Businessman Sulu is single and comes from Lusaka. He describes himself as “a guy that loves people” and says his best traits are his character and his enjoyment of the company of others. He values wisdom and intelligence in others, but dislikes negativity, gossip and evil. He entered Big Brother because “there is a lot to learn about ourselves” and promises viewers lots of fun and life-changing lessons. If he wins, he’ll help young people realise their potential and invest in real estate. Sulu is humbled about the fact that so many people will be watching him on the show, but says that it’s “great” at the same time. He says the best thing about Africa is its potential for development and says his favourite place in Zambia is Livingstone. Outside of his home country, he says America is his favourite place, because it’s “too much fun”.

Cleo – Zambia Cleo – Zambia Cleo is an artist and musician from Lusaka. Single with a daughter, she is currently looking to further her studies. She entered Big Brother because it’s something she’s always seen herself doing. “I have been trying to enter Big Brother since I was 21,” she says. “It looks fun, but it’s clear to see that only the strong personalities and characters go far”. Her proudest achievement is making it into the Big Brother house, because she has always known it would be the biggest step she would make toward reaching her goals and realising her dreams. Cleo describes herself as “friendly, loud, caring, blatant and loyal”, citing her favourite qualities as her patience, tact, obedience, domestication, humility and respect. She dislikes backstabbers, liars, immaturity and disrespectfulness and promises viewers “a lot of realness, a bit of comedy, a lot of singing and rapping, a lot of ME to the fullest”.  

O’Neal – Botswana O’Neal – Botswana ONeal is a radio personality and TV host. He describes himself as “fun, imaginative, entertaining, shocking and unforgettable”. ONeal values consideration in others and thinks his best quality is his imagination. He dislikes dishonesty and declares himself an entertainer at heart. ONeal says his favourite place in Botswana is his house – in particular his couch – and says that the best thing about Africa is its people’s emotional strength. He was inspired to enter Big Brother because of “the lack of me in that house” and a need to increase his follower base outside his home country. ONeal has a younger brother and says it will be a privilege to have Africa’s eyes on him 24/7, but also acknowledges how tough it will probably be. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll build his mom her dream house.  

Maria- Namibia Maria – Namibia Radio presenter and model Maria is single, has a Public Relations Diploma and is from Ondangwa. She lists spaghetti and chicken wings as her favourite foods and 50 Shades of Grey as her favourite book. Maria entered Big Brother in the hope of getting exposure which will boost her broadcasting career. She promises viewers “a lot of blonde moments” and also says she’ll “be real”. If she wins the grand prize, she’ll buy a new car and pay off her house – and probably give the rest to charity. She lists a friend that is currently battling cancer as her role model. The achievements she’s most proud of so far are having her own radio show and being chosen to host the Namibian Music Awards. Maria says her favourite personal trait is her kind and compassionate heart and she values honesty and respect in others. She hates gossip-mongers and promises viewers: “I am the real deal”.  

Melvin – Nigeria Melvin – Nigeria Melvin is a model and actor from Delta State with a BSc in Chemistry. Melvin enjoys listening to Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and R Kelly. His favourite place in Nigeria is Lagos and he says the best things about the continent as a whole are the culture and people. Outside of Nigeria, he enjoys spending time in South Africa and the USA because “these are places where you can relax and relate to people conveniently”. His friends and family inspired him to enter Big Brother. He has always been a fan of the show and has previously come out tops in two other reality shows. He is hoping to use all his experience and charm to go all the way on Big Brother. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll invest it, but he’s also hoping to make his country proud and use this experience as a platform to achieve other things in his career.

 Natasha – Malawi Natasha – Malawi Self-employed mom Natasha hails from Lilongwe. She entered Big Brother because she looks at it as being social, educational, entertaining and a platform for fame. She describes herself as “fun, adventurous, flirtatious, crazy and sweet” and says that the qualities she likes most in herself are her patience, calmness, jokes and tolerance. She values patience, tolerance and kindness in others too, but despises control freaks, liars and unfaithfulness. Her favourite musicians include Mampi, Zahara, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Kenny Rogers and her favourite actors are Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. Her favourite part of Malawi is Livingstonia Beach and she believes the best thing about Africa is its unity, peace and friendliness of its cultures.  

Biguesas – Angola Biguesas – Angola Biguesas from Luanda is single and doesn’t have any children. He describes himself as “handsome, intelligent, extroverted, playful and talkative”. He values sincerity in others and says if he wins the grand prize, he’ll share some of the money with his family, donate some, pay for university and buy a house. He’s also excited by the prospect of fame, as he’s always wanted to be a TV presenter. His favourite foods are ‘pap’, hamburgers and fries. Biguesas says the best thing about Africa is the fauna & flora and his favourite place outside of Angola is Pretoria in South Africa. Biguesas says he is proud to be finishing University soon, a first for his family of 9 siblings.

Feza – Tanzania Feza – Tanzania Recording artist Feza is from Arusha and has a certificate in IT. A fan of French fries and Ugali na Maziwa. She loves Big Brother and says that people always do well after appearing on the show, something she feels is vital for her career. She says that if she wins the grand prize, she’ll invest some, take her son to Disneyland and possibly buy a house. Feza describes herself as “fun, bubbly, loyal, kind and strong” and thinks her best trait is her humility. She enjoys people who are honest, caring and fun, but dislikes those who are liars. She promises viewers “a lot of dance, a bit of noise and lots of laughs too”. She’s hoping to get exposure and growth from her time in the house. Her mom is her role model, whom she cites as “the strongest, most beautiful and humble person I know. She has an older brother and sister, and one younger brother.

Elikem – Ghana Elikem – Ghana Tailor and actor Elikem is single and hails from Accra. Denzel Washington and Samuel L Jackson are his favourite actors – the former because he’s bold, confident and a natural and the latter because “he has made the black man proud”. Elikem entered Big Brother for three things: the money, the exposure and the game play. He says it’s great that Africa will be watching him 24/7 because he’ll get a chance to show the continent who he is and what he can do and promote himself as a tailor and actor. He has grand plans for the big prize. He says he’ll host a fashion fundraiser, open 3 retail stores in Accra – and 3 more abroad – as well as shoot a star studded movie before putting what’s left into investments and bonds.  

Betty – Ethiopia Betty – Ethiopia Betty is a translator and teacher from Addis Ababa. She describes herself as brave, confident, committed and able to make the right decisions at the right time. She likes punctual, reasonable, and confident people, but dislikes people with “big mouths”. Her favourite food is pizza and favourite book is The Notebook. She says the best thing about Africa is the people, because they have showed the world they can do anything. Her favourite spot in Ethiopia is Kuriftu Resort in Debrezeit, and her favourite place outside her home country is Hollywood, because she loves film and music “and that’s where the stars live”. Betty entered Big Brother because she has always wanted to be a part of it and is inspired by “every crazy thing in the show”. She says that having Africa’s eyes glued to the show will make her feel “like a princess”. If she wins the grand prize, she’ll open a travel agency in Ethiopia.

Bolt – Sierra Leone Bolt – Sierra Leone= Freetown-born Bolt is a businessman with a Diploma in Computer Science. He loves Africa because it’s natural, and says his favourite place outside of Sierra Leone is the USA, because “it is a land full of opportunities” and he has family there. Bolt will enjoy having the continent’s eyes on him, saying that it will make him feel like he’s ruling the world. If he wins, he’ll invest the money, start a music label, and give his daughter a quality education. His role model is R Kelly, because “he is a genius in music and is best at whatever he does”. With 4 brothers – one older and three younger – he says his mom has played a massive role in his life. Bolt sees himself as a leader and says he is also frank, transparent and a supporter. He enjoys people who are open-minded, friendly and spontaneous and dislikes pretence, being ignored, people who are full of fear, and taking advantage of people’s weakness to destroy them.

Annabel – Kenya Annabel – Kenya Student and fashion designer Annabel says she doesn’t have any children – but considers her pets to be her babies. She enjoys reading philosophical literature. Her favourite foods include Ethiopian, Nigerian, Oriental and Italian and she lists her favourite TV show as Big Brother. Annabel’s favourite place in Kenya is Mombasa, because she loves the water and says it’s the only place she finds peace and tranquillity. Outside of Kenya, she loves Greece or Rome because of the way they have preserved the artefacts and culture through the generations. “I love art and I’d kill to live there!” she says. Annabel says she loves attention and is looking forward to having Africa’s eyes on her 24/7. “It makes me feel like the princess I’ve always been,” she says. Her family is happy she’s going to be on the show and she says they can’t wait to tell everyone they’re related to her.  

Denzel – Uganda Denzel – Uganda Denzel is a radio and TV show host from Kampala. Asked to describe himself in 5 words, he says “I am very eccentric”. He says his best quality is his optimism and he likes a great sense of style and humour and open-mindedness in others. He dislikes negative people and smelly feet. He entered Big Brother for the money, fame and adventure and ‘could care less’ that Africa will be watching him so closely. “People are always watching me, by virtue of my job,” he says. “In entertainment, you forfeit your right to privacy”. If he wins, he’ll “party”. He lists himself as his own role model, because of what he has achieved despite what he has gone through. He is the youngest of 4 children and says his proudest achievement is that he makes the world’s best-tasting noodles.  

Koketso – South Africa Koketso – South Africa Johannesburg-born Koketso is an entrepreneur, currently studying towards a Law degree. She enjoys eating “most African dishes, but to watch my weight I eat Thai for indulgence. Koketso says the best thing about Africa is its potential – “It’s like a young bright kid with endless possibilities”. Her favourite place in South Africa is Coffee Bay and away from home, Dakar, citing it as the only place outside of South Africa she has felt at home. Koketso entered Big Brother because of her “new-found fearlessness”. “I am now not afraid to take risks and live my life for me,” she says. “I wanted to see how far I can take this. I needed a new challenge and I wanted something to help me build a brand I can capitalise on”. She says she’s nervous to have the continent’s eyes on her. If she wins the USD 300 000, she’ll start her foundation for young girls in her township and explore investment opportunities in other African countries.

Hakeem – Zimbabwe Hakeem – Zimbabwe Hakeem is a model from Harare. He entered Big Brother because he is a huge fan of the show and passionate about the experience. “I like the idea of taking simple and exceptionally talented people like me and thrusting them into stardom,” he says. “Also, I’m a model and aspiring actor seeking bigger opportunities”. He says the best thing about Africa is the people, the culture, resources and history, which is “so rich, authentic and intriguing”. His favourite place in the world outside of his home country is Jamaica, because of the food, drink and climate – “and the parties are out of this world”. Hakeem’s role model is Tyson Beckford because he was the first black male model to become a supermodel. “He was picked from the streets, yet so humble, ambitious and composed,” says Hakeem. If Hakeem wins Big Brother, he’ll invest in property, pay tithes, go to college, take care of his son and own the biggest model agency in Africa to help open doors for others.

 Photo Credit & Bio of housemates: bigbrotherafrica.dstv.com