Big Brother Africa winners: where are they now?
Big Brother Africa - a popular reality TV show, based on the original Big Brother. The first season of Big Brother Africa was done in 2003 and from then its been gaining increasing popularity all over Africa. So it was not surprising that the producers of the show have decided to shoot the 8th season. Let's checkout past winners of Big Brother Africa and what they've been up to.
Big Brothers Africa show: plot
The first season of African Big Brother had simple rules — it featured 12 participants from 12 African countries, who lived in the secluded house. The contestants left the project by the decision of viewers and other participants. The last one achieved a big amount of money. In future, these rules were changed, but the main idea of the show is still the same.
Big Brother Africa 1
Meet the first official winner of the Big Brother Africa show, a good and pretty girl from Zambia, Cherise Makubale. She was the perfect example of housekeeping woman, and also she was never involved in any sorts of sexual relations with other contestants. Instead of that, she was more likely to help others in finding balance in their relations. Maybe, exactly for her big heart, Cherise was named as the winner of the first season. As an award, she got $100,000 after 106 days spent in the house.
The story of Cherise Makubale after the ending of the show is even more inspiring than her actual performance on it. She began to work with Zambian government and health organization and became the Goodwill Ambassador for Zambia. She traveled all over Africa with a mission of spotlighting the problem with AIDS and HIV. In Zambia, she made a couple donations for the orphanages and especially, she helped to raise money for the Cherise Makubale Resource Centre for the Disabled. Also, Cherise owns several educational parks for kids.
Cherise got married in October 2008, she lives with her husband in London, but it doesn’t prevent her from continuing her charity missions in Zambia and Africa.
Big Brother Africa 2
The winner of the second season, Richard Dyle Bezuidenhout from Tanzania, could be named as one of the most controversial BBA show’s winners. That is because of his sexual affairs with Nigerian contestant, Ofunneka Molokwu, who was totally drunk by the moment of their relation’s edge. Despite that on the next day Ofunneka told Big Brother, that she totally understood, what was going on, many viewers accused Richard of the sexual abuse.
Nevertheless, Richard was still able to win in season 2. Just after the show, he took part as an actor in Nollywood film, Player No.1. His role was similar to his figure in the house because in this film he appears to be a very popular playboy.
The troubles for him continued after the show, when rumors of an affair between Richard and his housemate, Tatiana, was revealed. Maybe, this story was just a fake because it wouldn’t last long until the talks had stopped. Today, Richard is focused on his acting and producing career, as well as his wife and his family.
Big Brother Africa 3
In 2008, the Big Brother Africa Season 3 was shown. This time, we had a winner from Angola. A smiling guy, Ricardo Venancio, was able to impress the public so much that in the end, he became the winner.
After the BBA show was finished, he decided to take a part in the Brasilian version of this show. But he survived only 4 days in the house. And this was the last time when Ricardo Venancio was spotted on the cams. Now he lives a quiet life with his young Brazilian girlfriend.
Big Brother Africa 4: The Revolution
The fourth edition of Big Brother Africa became very significant for us because this was the first season for Nigerian to win in. And he was doubly lucky because Kevin Chuwang Pam went away not with $100,000, but with $200,000. Also, he began serious relations with his fellow housemate, Tanzanian-born Elizabeth Gupta. After the show, they got married.
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Kevin invested his money and founded his own company, Down2Earth Entertainment. Also, he began an interesting entertainment initiative, named “Jos Bring It On”, where the youth get a chance to express themselves and start their career in this area.
Kevin and his family now live and run their business in Jos. One of his businesses is a restaurant called “Gupsy Delight”. Kevin Pam also founded an NGO called “Naija Pikin”, with which he invests in needy African children. He has put his musical career on hold to focus on his wife and two children.
Big Brother Africa 5: All-Stars
In 2010, the fifth season of BBA started. It was named “All stars” because there were a lot of contestants from previous editions of the show. And the future winner of season 5, Uti Nwachukwu, was also a very controversial person.
There were talks around, that Uti Nwachukwu won the price because of his father’s death, which made viewers empathize him. One way or another, the result was the same, and Uti left the house with his prize.
After the show, he continued his entertainment career. He worked as a model and an actor. Also, he was a co-host on a TV show called “Jara”. Today, he continues to build up his image in the entertainment industry.
Big Brother Africa 6: Amplified
In the Season 6, which was held in 2011, there were 2 winners in the end. This was the only time when we had such a result. Karen Igho, a native Nigerian from Delta State, was the first one. She was already known among the public even before the show, due to her media career. 2 years after the show ended, Karen made a statement, that she is fighting cancer. Fortunately, her struggle ended in 2014 and she became cancer-free. Now, she lives in New York with her husband and child.
Another winner of the sixth season, Wendall Parsons is a Zimbabwean trained pilot. He was additionally awarded by Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, with $50,000. But just right after the show ended, a couple of problems chased Wendall. At first, his mother charged him to court and won the court against him, due to his old debt. Also, Wendall was arrested for fraud charges against a bank, but this time he won the case. After these events, he went below the radars.
Big Brother Africa 7: Star Game
The 7th edition of BBA was held in 2012. The winner was from South Africa, and his name is Keagan Petersen. Winning the Big Brother show is considered a good thing. But, in the case of the 7th winner, things went the opposite way. Although Keagan managed to invest his money, he wasn’t lucky enough.
After the show, he was involved in a car accident in Cape Town. His arm was shattered in three places, but he managed to recover fully.
Big Brother Africa 8: The Chase
The winner of the next season, which was held in 2013, was one of the most beautiful women to enter the BBA show. Her name is Dillish Mathews and she is a Namibian native. For this edition, the main prize was a whopping $300,000.
Two years after the show, Dillish wrote an Instagram post, where she told us about her financial state. “Read about what I did with the money that I got from “Big Brother”? It’s finished. A couple of Rolexes; kept going to Milan, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai… It’s finished. Kaput! So, here it is just in case your life depended on it. I don chop finish.”
Despite some of us thought that this would mean an ending for Dillish’ luxury life, it was not so. Now, she is back with her longtime boyfriend, Steven Gaeseb. Her business net worth is about $2.5 million. She is an owner of a company named “Dillish Cool Cubes”, which main activity is a production of ice cubes. Also, she has her own lipstick and gloss line named “Vault by Dillish”. As well, she appears to be a co-owner of a high-class beauty salon called “High Definition Spa”.
Big Brother Africa 9: Hot Shots
The most recent BBA show season was held in 2014. And for Nigerians, this edition was quite frustrating. Some of the viewers thought that the main prize would be given to Nigerian contestant, Tayo Faniran, whose first child was born during the show. But the judges had other thoughts, so the title of the season 9 winner was given to Tanzanian contest, Idris Sultan.
Despite the fact that Tayo was left behind, he was awarded several contracts after the show. Idris on his side continued his career as an actor and comedian.
As we can assume, not every winner of the BBA reality show eventually could found himself and continue to live a celebrity life. Nevertheless, such shows could serve as a great startup for young people, who have dreams of becoming big names in the entertainment industry or accomplished entrepreneurs. So, we are looking forward to the next edition of Big Brother.
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Source: Legit.ng
