Entertainment
BBNaija: When A Social Experiment Becomes Youth Empowerment
By Bennett OghifoThe Nigerian social media space was buzzing on the evening of July 28 with the premiere of the ninth edition of Africa’s most-watched reality TV show, Big Brother Naija (BBNaija). Conversations spilled into the early hours of Monday as audiences dissected everything, from the outfits to the demeanours of the 28 new housemates in the “No Loose Guard” season. This buzz is a familiar occurrence whenever the show launches, which is unsurprising. Each premiere marks the beginning of another season filled with shared values, passion, and a sense of identity, as millions of Nigerian youths see reflections of themselves in the diverse characters selected for the show. Critics might argue that the show is a yearly distraction for the youth, but if it is indeed a distraction, it’s one with significant value. After all, what other entertainment platform has empowered Nigerian youth as much as BBNaija in the last decade?This season, one of the housemates (the big sister of the Ndi Nne pair) finally secured a spot on the show after eight attempts. Several others share similar stories of persistence, finally hitting the jackpot after multiple tries. Such is the belief in the show that actors, singers, and other talented individuals view it as a guaranteed platform for career exposure and growth.As the Executive Head of Content and Channels: West Africa at MultiChoice,, Busola Tejumola, reckoned, what started as a content creation initiative has evolved into a significant empowerment phenomenon. “In the short term, we create great content for our customers, showcasing real people with real-life issues that resonate across the continent. In the long term, Big Brother enables us to impact the continent’s economy on a large scale. From providing jobs for over 2,000 people per season to contributing billions of naira to the Gross Domestic Product, we continue to be Africa’s most loved storyteller by holding a mirror to society through the housemates,” Tejumola explained.Since the show’s revival after an eleven-year hiatus between its first and second editions, BBNaija has consistently produced success stories. By the end of this current season, over 200 Nigerian youths will have earned the title of ex-Big Brother Naija housemate—a designation that carries significant weight in the entertainment and media industries. Although only eight individuals have won the star prize and become multi-millionaires directly through the show, many others have leveraged their exposure to build successful careers and achieve financial success.At the 2023 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards, Tobi Bakre won the ‘Best Actor’ award. The star of ‘Slum King’, ‘Brotherhood’ and ‘Gangs of Lagos,’ is now one of Nollywood’s biggest names, and his foray into the movie industry is traceable to his participation in season three of Big Brother Nigeria.Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the BBNaija show host, is another testament to the show’s empowerment power. A product of the first edition in 2006, Ebuka has since become one of Africa’s most popular and sought-after show hosts.Likewise, Busola Aiyeola’s career in the entertainment industry received a significant boost after she participated in the 2017 ‘See Gobbe’ edition of the show. She has since won a Trailblazer Award at the AMVCAs and hosted international shows like ‘Shoot Your Shot’ and ‘Family Feud’ on Africa Magic. She has also starred in notable films like ‘Sugar Rush,’ ‘Meet the Kujus,’ ‘Gold Statue,’ ‘Picture Perfect,’ ‘Breaded Life,’ and ‘Dinner at My Place.’Thanks to their popularity, ex-housemates have become influential voices and faces for brands aiming to connect with Nigerian youth. For example, the new Supa Komando advert features four Big Brother Naija housemates (Neo, Sasskay, Erica, and Cross), who also serve as Supa Komando ambassadors. Other former housemates like Elozonam and Diane, who have the AMVCAs in their kitty, and others such as Tacha, Mercy Eke, Cee-C, Venita, and Ozo, Groovy, Kim Oprah, have become prominent brand ambassadors and influencers.In every corner you look in the entertainment industry, the impact of the show is evident. As the 2024 edition unfolds, another set of Nigerian youths will likely leverage their newfound fame to achieve success. The show’s influence is undeniable, and it has become more than just a social experiment for Nigerian youth— who have come to see the show as a platform for showcasing talent, securing industry recognition, and achieving career growth.
Entertainment
When life takes an unexpected turn, what do you do? These GOtv movies have the answers (or at least the drama).
Every memorable movie has that one moment that changes everything.Sometimes it’s a secret that finally comes to light. Sometimes it’s opening the wrong door, taking the wrong job, or coming face to face with the one person you never expected to meet. Whatever it is, there’s no going back after that.This week’s GOtv movie lineup is filled with stories built around those moments. The kind that pulls you in not because you know what’s coming, but because you genuinely want to find out what happens next.Dotted LineWhat happens when trust disappears before a person does?image.jpegA seemingly perfect marriage begins to unravel under the weight of betrayal and suspicion. When Munachi vanishes under a new identity, Tayo is left searching for answers while wrestling with forgiveness, heartbreak and hope. Just when it seems everything has been lost, a life-changing revelation about a baby changes everything.Catch Dotted Line on Wednesday at 10:32 PM on Africa Magic Showcase GOtv Ch 8.Big Momma’s House 2Sometimes the fastest way to catch a criminal is to blend into the family.image.pngAn FBI agent goes undercover as a nanny and housekeeper to get close to the creator of a dangerous computer worm. The mission sounds simple until keeping up the disguise becomes just as challenging as catching the suspect. Packed with Martin Lawrence’s signature humour, this undercover operation delivers plenty of laughs alongside the action.Watch Big Momma’s House 2 on Thursday at 5:15 PM on Studio Universal, GOtv Ch 54.Gemini ManImagine discovering your toughest opponent knows your every move because he is you.image.pngAn ageing hitman ready to leave his dangerous life behind suddenly finds himself pursued by a younger, stronger version of himself. As the mystery unfolds, survival becomes more than a test of skill; it’s a confrontation with the past, the future, and everything in between.Watch Gemini Man on Friday at 5:00 PM on MovieRoom Africa, GOtv Ch 51.ArmorSome jobs come with risk. This one comes with an army.image.jpegA father and son working security for an armoured truck company expect another routine shift until a ruthless gang targets their vehicle. Trapped and outnumbered, they must rely on courage, quick thinking and each other to survive. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Armor is an action thriller that doesn’t waste time getting to the tension.Catch Armor on Saturday, July 4, at 6:20 PM on M-Net Movies 3, GOtv Ch 53.My ChauffeurSome secrets don’t destroy a marriage overnight; they quietly grow between two people.image.jpegYears of infertility, unspoken pain and hidden truths put a childless couple’s relationship under immense pressure. As long-buried secrets come to light, they’re forced to decide whether love can survive honesty, forgiveness and the weight of expectations.Watch My Chauffeur on Sunday, July 5, at 9:50 AM on Africa Magic Showcase, GOtv Ch 8.No matter what kind of story you’re looking for this week, GOtv’s lineup offers plenty of reasons to stay on the couch a little longer. From explosive action and undercover comedy to emotional family dramas that stay with you long after the credits roll, there’s something waiting to surprise you, one unexpected twist at a time.To upgrade, subscribe or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.
Entertainment
The Role of TV in Preserving African Stories and Identity
Scroll through social media today and you will notice something interesting: everyone is either reacting to a series, quoting a movie line, or debating a character as though they personally know them. Beneath the memes and binge-watch culture, however, lies something deeper. Television remains one of the most powerful tools shaping how Africans see themselves, remember their history, and tell their own stories. In a continent as diverse and expressive as Africa, that matters more than ever.TV as a Cultural Archive, Not Just EntertainmentLong before streaming algorithms began shaping our viewing habits, television was already preserving African identity. From Nollywood dramas that capture the rhythm of everyday Lagos life to documentaries exploring Maasai traditions and Ghanaian folklore, TV has served as a living archive of the continent’s stories.It preserves more than entertainment; it preserves language, culture, humour, values, and shared experiences. Unlike fleeting social media content, television allows stories to unfold with depth, exploring the realities of family, tradition, ambition, and modern African life without reducing them to stereotypes. That is the power of TV: preserving not just stories, but perspective.Why Representation on TV Still MattersThere is a subtle but important truth: if people do not see themselves on screen, they may begin to believe their stories are not worth telling. This is why African TV content is more than entertainment; it is affirmation.Seeing a character who speaks like you, struggles like you, or celebrates like your community does something powerful. It validates identity and challenges outdated narratives that have historically defined Africa through external lenses.This is where MultiChoice Group, through platforms such as DStv and GOtv, plays an important role. They do not simply broadcast content; they help distribute cultural memory at scale.GOtv, DStv, and the Everyday African ViewerThink about a typical evening in many African homes: the TV is on in the background, someone is laughing at a comedy show, another person is watching a local series, and someone else is catching up on the news. That shared viewing experience remains very real.Through platforms such as DStv and GOtv, African households are exposed to a blend of local storytelling and global content. More importantly, they have helped amplify African-produced content by bringing Nollywood films, African reality shows, talk shows, and documentaries into mainstream rotation.It is not just about access. It is about visibility.A young filmmaker in Lagos today is more likely to believe their story matters because they have seen similar stories broadcast widely. A child in Accra grows up hearing familiar accents and seeing environments that look like their own on screen, not as exceptions, but as the norm.TV Is Also Shaping Modern African IdentityAfrican identity is not static; it is evolving. Television reflects that evolution in real time.Today, audiences see:Young Africans balancing tradition and modern dating cultureStories tackling mental health in African householdsFashion and music influences spreading through TV seriesPolitical satire shaping public conversationConversations that were once confined to homes are now being explored on screen, giving audiences the language to discuss issues that were previously unspoken.In many ways, television is doing what oral tradition has always done: passing stories, values, humour, warnings, and history from one generation to the next. The difference is that today’s griots are writers, directors, and broadcasters.The Future: From Watching to Owning Our NarrativesThe next stage of African storytelling is not just about being seen; it is about ownership.As more African creators produce content and platforms continue to invest in regional storytelling, television becomes more than a mirror. It becomes a tool for shaping how Africa is represented to itself and to the world.While streaming continues to grow, television, particularly accessible platforms such as GOtv, remains one of the most effective ways to reach everyday audiences across different income levels and regions. After all, storytelling only matters if people can access it.African stories are not new. They have always existed in families, on streets, in markets, in history books, and through oral traditions. What television has done, and continues to do, is give those stories a stage wide enough for millions to experience them at once.The next time you watch a local series or documentary on DStv or GOtv, remember that you are not just being entertained. You are participating in the preservation of African identity itself.
Entertainment
Entertainment Non-Stop: Movies and Shows to Watch on GOtv This Week
A renowned professor races across Europe in a desperate bid to stop a deadly virus that could wipe out half of humanity.In another gripping story, a teenage girl already battling anxiety suddenly finds herself fighting for her life when a ruthless serial killer begins hunting her through the woods.Elsewhere, two operatives who should be on the same side realise they’ve both been deceived, forcing them into an uneasy alliance in a dangerous world of crime and betrayal.That’s the kind of tension GOtv is serving up this week.It’s a lineup that moves from fast-paced thrillers to intense drama and even stories rooted in everyday realities, giving you something different depending on your mood. If you’re looking for what to watch next, here are the movies and shows airing on GOtv this week.InfernoThursday | 22:05pm | Movie Room AfricaRobert Langdon finds himself pulled into a deadly race across Europe after waking up with no memory and a virus-threatening conspiracy unfolding around him. With the help of Dr. Sienna Brooks, he follows a trail of cryptic clues tied to Dante’s Inferno, all while a global catastrophe looms if they fail to act in time. It’s a high-stakes thriller where every second counts and nothing is what it seems.You Can’t Run ForeverSaturday | 20:00 pm | M-Net Movies 3A young girl battling anxiety becomes an unexpected target when a ruthless serial killer begins hunting her through the wilderness. What starts as fear quickly turns into a raw fight for survival as she’s forced to rely on instinct, courage, and sheer will to stay alive. With J.K. Simmons leading the tension, it’s a gripping survival thriller that doesn’t let up.2 GunsFriday | 23:55 pm | Studio UniversalTwo operatives who’ve been unknowingly working against each other suddenly find themselves on the wrong side of a dangerous double-cross. With both the law and criminals closing in, they’re forced into an uneasy partnership to survive the chaos they’ve been dragged into. Packed with action, betrayal, and sharp chemistry between Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, it’s explosive from start to finish.She Was Never HereWednesday | 11:25 am | Africa Magic ShowcaseRalph thinks he’s securing a better future when he gets his fiancée Bianca a chef job at his boss’s home. But behind the opportunity lies a secret deal Bianca makes to earn more money, one that slowly begins to unravel trust, love, and everything they’ve built together. It’s a tense domestic drama where ambition and loyalty collide.My Period StoriesSaturday | 09:00 am | Africa Magic FamilyA podcast-style series that opens up conversations around menstrual health and reproductive rights through interviews, personal testimonies, and real discussions. By blending storytelling with lived experiences, it breaks silence around topics often left unspoken and encourages honest dialogue in a relatable, accessible way.From Hollywood blockbusters to meaningful conversations that reflect real-life issues, GOtv continues to deliver a diverse mix of entertainment that speaks to every kind of viewer. Whether you’re watching alone or with family, this week’s lineup guarantees something worth your time.To upgrade, subscribe or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.
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