Big Brother Naija season 11 is in its sixth week of airing, and some Nigerians have speculated that fans are not tuned into this season. The season is reportedly going by in a blur, with little to no cultural impact on the country, and it has us wondering: is this just social media speculation, or is the season not catching Nigerians’ attention?
How Nigerians Are Reacting To Big Brother Naija Season 11
Nigerians have been unsure about this season of Big Brother Naija since the day the housemates were announced, with many people claiming they did not see any housemates who caught their eye.
However, things changed a few days into the season when the housemates began interacting, with people picking their favourite contestants, voting for them, and stirring up conversations on social media about them.
So why is social media seemingly out of tune with Big Brother Naija?
The Possible Issues Nigerians Have With Big Brother Naija Season 11
Nigerians have levelled several criticisms at Big Brother Naija season 11, and while some of these issues are not unique to these contestants or this season, they make the low cultural impact understandable. Some of these issues are:
- Low Energy
One of the major complaints the contestants of this season have received is their low energy, which fans have claimed has been obvious since the first few days of the season airing. Viewers have criticised the housemates for showing a lack of enthusiasm and failing to provide engaging content, instead choosing to exist in the background.
- Strained Dynamics
Compared to prior seasons, viewers are complaining that the contestants on this season’s Big Brother Naija are not forming strong dynamics with each other. The lack of dynamic or strong interactions among housemates has made this season’s friendships seem underwhelming compared to the previous season, when many housemates left the house with friends.
- The Rule Breaking
This season has seen the housemates receive punishments, strikes, and warnings from Big Brother, not for the drama viewers expect, but for rule-breaking. Contestants are receiving strikes and punishments for property damage, microphone tampering, and general disobedience.
- The Twists From Biggie
Another aspect of this season that has drawn much criticism from viewers is the “Gambit” twist introduced by Big Brother. Fans have claimed that not only is the twist unfair, but letting the contestants be aware of their gambit status, which allows them to remain in the house until the final day without being able to win, is a cruel thing to do and has turned fans off from watching the season.
The Irony in These Complaints
The irony is that most of the complaints from Big Brother Naija fans this season have become a recurring theme. Every season, fans make similar complaints, and while some seasons, like Season 10, receive the majority of love from fans, all Big Brother Naija seasons receive some form of criticism and still draw viewership.
Even amid the complaints season 11 is receiving, fans are still tuned in and rooting for their faves, with fan-favourites occupying the social media trend tables. While Nigerians are not as tuned in as they were last season, season 11 still has a good chance of winning fans’ support over the next month before the season ends.
What do we think?
This season may not have as much of a cultural impact as other Big Brother seasons, but the lights are still on. The contestants of this season still have a chance to salvage the season, as many have begun showing more of their personalities and building large fan bases outside of the house, and may just come out on top by the end of the show. Unlike in other seasons, when Nigerians seemed to know the winner in the early weeks, the winner this season is still undecided.
