If there is anything that relieves Nigerians of their unceasing economic turmoil , it is tales of momentarily exciting emotional distractions. If you want Nigerians to relax and even smile through a real grinding economic motion, bring a distraction upstage and you will see the true resilient spirit that makes the average Nigerian tick. There have been in the time past, real moments of palpable hardship that was doused by excitable stories of Nigerian side snatching victory from the jaws of defeat at the qualifying stage of Nations cup or beating an unexpected foe at The World Cup fiesta. At that instance , no one cares if there is food on the table or not as everyone becomes a drummer of patriotic rhythm and dancers of lyrics of the true Nigerian identity. When such moments come, both young and old Nigerians fuse into an unbiased identity effecting a victory that rings with loud and rancorous happiness. Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Legend of Afro beat sang ‘suffering and smiling’, in a reaction to one of such moments in which Nigerians would prefer to go through their grist all smiles because they are apparently helpless though not hopeless.
Enter The 2025 edition, 10th edition to be specific, of The Big Brother Nigeria (BigBrotherNaija), a reality TV show on Dstv which started in late July. It has come once again with its usual thrills and frills and sizzling excitement and it is meant to be opened to very wide viewership for not less than ten weeks after which a most resilient winner emerges to win a cathedral size of millions. The reality TV show no doubt will make mouths to loosen up in both pleasant and unpleasant surprises as wildcats and wild cards characters in the house will wow the viewers with scenes ranging from the ordinary to the most impossible and unconscionable display of obscenity ; you will be a most consecrated eunuch not to be distracted.
In the recent show, a tall, well built , effortlessly fleshly lady has been stealing the show in the house and no doubt, such headline – grabbing character always secures attraction. Interestingly, some guy with seemingly uncontrollable emotional clamour in the house has become so helplessly attracted to her so much that they have turned sudden love birds and have already begun to exhibit action best seen in adult movies boldly x -rated.
For a nation that is short on morals and huge on vices, this TV show comes in handy as a once in a year motion session replete with pornographic allusions. One wonders if screen obscenities, heavy exhibitionism of nudity ( the type rated noodles in street lingo) and rowdy worldliness belong in the tick list of resilience as being bandied by the screen script of BBN.
Like the popular sport fiesta that makes viewers to forget their sorrow, tears and lack, this big show with huge viewing traffic has made its mark as a channel of escape from the realities of government policies that have made life really hard for the governed.
Here we are talking about cases of joblessness or outright cyclical unemployment, the rising cost of living that is stifling life out of the living, personal challenges that border on lack and many more.
Obviously, the staggering viewership of the scintillating reality TV show underscores the fact that people will rather prefer such lofty distractions to hitting their head over grim newspaper headlines of the unabated terrorism in the north, growing cases of ransome and ritual kidnapping in the south, politics of bickering such as the brand that sacked Simialayi Fubara in Portharcourt , the unending dance of survival by Osun Governor reprobating and approbating like yo-yo between the PDP and APC, the disconnecting tune of serial Presidential wannabees who now think a one year term of four years is the magic wand to fix a terribly beaten Nigeria.
One won’t be fair to resilience, however, if one does not congratulate the Nigerian big girls and winners of Wafcon 2025. That is the undying spirit of the Nigerian identity. Salute to our girls and their can-do spirit. They conquered Africa and even when everything appeared lost and finished in the final, Osoala, Alozie and their fire spitting team members snatched victory from the jaws of defeat leaving the Moroccans Jaws sagging with unbelief. Any surprise that the President opened the till and rained mouth -gaping hundreds of millions on each player? They deserve it! Or don’t they? They are not civil servants who have to negotiate their minimum wage with government on the roundtable or the roadblock. That is another kettle of tea, actually. This day in the country called Nigeria, It is all about the varying degree , sides and shape of identity, or as the young people will say in pidgin, ‘things dey sup!’
Steve Remume Ovirih is a prolific writer and digital creator known for his innovative storytelling and creative approach to digital media. His works span across various genres, captivating audiences with his unique narrative style and engaging content.
Steve can be reached at steveovirih106@gmail.com
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