By Sam Phiri –
AFTER 12 years of silence, Big Brother Mzansi with a cultivating theme “Secrets” was launched last Sunday2 February at 19:00with interesting twists within the two hours not waiting for the following day.
The latest South African edition of the hit reality show that will not take the traditional 91 days but 63 to reveal the winner looks promisingly entertaining especially for the indigenous South Africans or those that understand the Mzansi languages.
It seems Big Brother is not putting a restriction of English only in the house as many are heard speaking their mother tongue languages.
With this fact, one wonders if the Big Brother Mzansi will receive that religious viewership from other countries though looking at how the game is progressing, a captivating, surprising and intriguing moment might just be Big Brothers secrets.
Big Brother himself introduced host Lungile Radu who quickly got down to the tasks of the day…revealing the Big Brother house, the new Big Brother housemates and a whirlwind of surprises. Along the way, top South African performers took to the stage on a night of action, drama and secrets!
With a R 1 million cash prize on offer for the ultimate winner, Big Brother Mzansi secrets got off to a flying start when popular kwaito house band Uhuru, featuring Oskido, thrilled audience with their runaway hit Ytjukutja.
The all new Big Brother house, featuring a stylish garden, living area, bathroom, open-plan kitchen, diary room, storeroom and two communal bedrooms, the house is decked out in beautiful brown earth tones, with splashes of white, wood and glass finishes and indigenous plants featured throughout.
Everything was now set! Camera, lights, sound and action! Lungile began the exciting job of introducing the housemates with the fist one being 23-year-old Kat who was followed by Mzamo (27).
The two were given a ‘secret mission’ by Big Brother straight away, to take complete ownership of the house and to behave as the official house hosts. No other housemates could be told their mission until the following morning’s exercise session!
Then up came regional portfolio manager MK (32), in a bright yellow jacket, and again Big Brother had a secret mission up his sleeve. Via touch screen message, MK was told to incessantly talk about himself in the house, as a way to irritate his fellow housemates.
With three housemates already in the game, rapper Reason took to the stage and wowed the studio audience with his electrifying performance of No Sleep and Bump The Chees Up!
Then Lungile welcomed Loko (22) in a floor length, form fitting teal coloured gown! Before she could comment on her excitement, Biggie struck again…this time delivering a secret mission. Loko had to adopt the bad habit of chewing gum non-stop until the following morning’s exercise session.
Then came Mandla (24). Now, with the pattern of events clearly established, a nurse delivered his secret task…to convince the housemates that he is a hypochondriac with a variety of ailments. After chatting briefly to Lungile, Mandla headed off presumably to cough and sneeze his way through the night.
Housemate 6 and 7, customer care professional Lexi (25) and university student Jase (21) made their debut next. Biggie’s secret mission for the good-looking twosome…at least one of them had to be in the house Jacuzzi at all times until the next morning.
Radio account executive Vanessa (23) who soon was joined by Cape Town’s Poolie (29) took to the stage. Their mission was to memorise the surnames of their fellow housemates and be ready to confirm these to Biggie at a moment’s notice!
Soon radio DJ Sol (26) whose funky white glasses and hip sneakers accessorised a red jacket and grey hat, was meeting university student Lola (23) dressed in full length pretty pink chiffon. Their secret mission to dance in the house, every time they see the LED lights on the diary room door flashing.
With dancing high on the agenda, Tembisa Revolution showed off their brilliant moves before audiences met Thando (23) whose flowing black dress cinched with gold belt surely caught the eyes of the four gorgeous men Biggie sent to deliver her secret mission…to collect and wear a piece of clothing from each of her fellow housemates!
With all 12 housemates safely in the house, and just when audiences thought Biggie’s secrets were done he sprang his biggest surprise of the night… a secret house CHAMBER, complete with six blindfolded chamber-mates who are competing for 2 available housemate spaces in Big Brother Mzansi!
Lungile promptly interviewed all six, meeting marketing coordinator Mbali (26), model Iris (21), fashion PR consultant Nku (29), aspiring filmmaker Kgosi (25), event and venue manager Jenayne (23) and part-time model Paris (23).
Lungile also let the audiences in on another secret…Nku is a roommate of Mzamo in real-life though Mzamo has no idea that she’s competing for a spot in the show!
Big Brother Mzansi secrets is live 24/7 to DStv channels 197 and 198 though ALL live Sunday shows are exclusively on Mzansi Magic.
Also on Mzansi Magic – Monday nomination shows (21:30), daily highlights shows from Tuesdays to Fridays (21:30) and weekly highlights every Saturday (17:00).
Daily highlights will also be screened Monday to Fridays on Mzansi Wethu (channel 163) at 22:30 and Magic World (channel 162) at 16:30.
