Like dull actors beating a retreat from a mean audience and a hostile stage, the producers of Big Brother Naija, a reality show, have done the unthinkable; they have moved the show’s location to South African. Thus they are shooting a reality show involving Nigerians, about Nigeria, on foreign soil.
This contradicts every culture of due process and sociopolitical correctness, in the estimation of several Nigerians. Hardly any Nigerian approves of the South Africa-based producers’ claim that it will be more convenient to shoot and tackle any production issue that will arise due to close proximity.
Several other reasons have also been given by the producers and their apologists. For instance, they claimed that if produced in Nigeria, the show will cost more in terms of financial resources to import and bring down equipment to Nigeria. Lack of stable electricity and issues of insecurity have also been highlighted as causes of the producers’ decision to host the show in South Africa.
While the reasons adduced serve as a rude commentary on the country’s parlous state and appalling infrastructure, it however, runs contrary to Nigerians’ expectations about the show. Many Nigerians have been looking forward to the launch of the show which started airing this week. But while the excitement that preceded its launch is contagious, it fizzled out in record time for reasons bordering on inappropriate location and phony process.
Nigerians believe the excuses advanced by the show’s producers are lame and unjustifiable. They believe it is extremely off-putting and phony for the show’s organisers to shoot and host a reality show about Nigeria in South Africa.
According to them, “Where is the reality in the show?”
