The 11th season (Show Ya Sef) of Big Brother Naija has come to an end, and while a winner was crowned, the show saw a significant drop in viewership and social media traction. However, the reduced viewership was not the only thing we noticed about this year’s edition of the show. In this article, we list our takeaways from the show and the conversations around it.
- The Casting Choice
This year’s Big Brother Naija casting drew significant complaints and backlash from fans. Unlike in previous seasons, when viewers picked their favourite contestants within the first week, this year viewers complained that they couldn’t fully connect with the contestants, even weeks into the show.
The casting choices for the prior seasons of the reality show had been relatable, funny, or full of surprises, and while this season’s casting was full of personality, viewers maintained that they were too conscious of their actions in the house to truly let loose as the show requires.
- The Twists
This year’s edition of Big Brother Naija introduced a twist early on into the show called “The Gambit”, where two housemates were voted by viewers to make it to the season’s finale without having a chance to take home the win, and while in the first few days it looked like a great twist, by the end of the show it seemed to us that the twist did more harm than good.
Contestants who had potential and personality were chosen by an audience who had not gotten to know them well enough as viewers, stripping them of the will to compete when they knew they had a free ride to the season’s finale.
However, in a shocking twist, Big Brother Naija changed the rules for the “Gambit”: they were no longer guaranteed a free ride to the finale and had to be voted into it. While the two housemates eventually made it to the finale, with one of them ending up as the runner-up, the twist had already made its impact on their time in their runnings.
- Viewer Fatigue
One of the major takeaways from this season’s edition of Big Brother Naija is that the usually excited and consistent viewers were fatigued. While many have suggested that the show take a break, others have said the show needs to introduce new features and challenges to keep viewers entertained.
Unlike in earlier seasons, viewers have complained that Big Brother Naija has become more predictable, and, to keep the audience’s attention, it needs to be more entertaining and unpredictable.
- The Punishments
Another takeaway from the show this year is that it needs to introduce a system so contestants do not feel belittled or humiliated by the punishments Biggie himself imposes. Although punishments have always been part of the show, a large part of the audience has argued that they are outdated and sometimes dismissive of the contestants’ feelings.
Contestants and viewers have suggested introducing punishments that harm the prizes rather than the contestants’ pride. This will inadvertently make the competition tougher, while maintaining the dignity of the housemates.
- Unchecked Sexual Harassment
This season received a lot of criticism from viewers and activists due to the unchecked sexual harassment the women in the Big Brother Naija house faced from the men on the show. It is, however, not the first time this has happened in the show’s history, and it has raised questions from longtime fans who wonder why the production team continues to overlook the harassment faced by the women, while others have made the decision to no longer watch the show.
This has us wondering: is the takeaway that all issues are fine and only warrant a strike until it becomes a case of physical violence? The housemates who committed the sexual harassment were given strikes, but many viewers have stated that it should incur a stricter punishment.
What do we think?
Big Brother Naija season 11 had both highs and lows, like every other season, but the major takeaway from this season, and from other seasons that were not fan favourites, is that casting choices have to be carefully curated to create a successful season that keeps viewers hooked. The housemates and their personalities capture a large share of the show’s audience’s attention, and a great cast makes a great season.
