07/10/2025
I just made a post about the need to stop Big Brother Naija and it has drew the attention of many, some in favour while some against. A comment caught my attention 100%.
Sọnwa wrote,
“Let's break down something real quick.
1. MTN Project Fame started 2008 and ended in 2016. That was the year I graduated from secondary school. This was a show that enabled Iyanya, Chidinma, Praiz and Niniola and equally contributed to the rise of Afropop, giving structure to the Nigerian music scene. I will explain.
Many of us did know that Nigerian music was vibrant but we didn't know how disorganized it was. There were no consistent platforms to groom raw talent into professional musicians. Most artists struggled with exposure, training, mentorship, and funding. In fact, success depended heavily on luck or being discovered by chance. But MTN project fame came in and showed young Nigerians that music could be a serious career path.
Unfortunately, this show dissappeared after the last episode in 2016.
2. Maltina Dance All began in 2007 and also dissapeared in 2016. This was a weekend show just as MTN project fame and it promoted unity by having families compete together. This was a show that embraced and showcased Nigerian cultural dances and blended them with modern styles of dance steps. Our indigenous styles were preserved on national TV. If this show had continued to this day, our nation could have been the global hub for dance export compared to the level we are, today. We could have used this system as a means to expose and preserve a cultural memory among younger generations across all trybes who now mostly know only TikTok dance challenges.
Unfortunately, this show dissappeared after the last episode in 2016.
3. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire started in 2004 and ended in 2017, resurfaced in 2022 and finally disappeared thereafter. It was a show that promoted reading, general knowledge, and love for quiz culture among many Nigerians; children and adults. This show gave average citizens the chance to become millionaires from intelligence.
Funny it was, ''is that your final answer?" became part of Nigerian slang. It was clear from this show that knowledge can be as rewarding as talent or entertainment. Unfortunately, this show is no longer airing in 2025.
4. Gulder Ultimate Search began in 2004 and ended in 2014 and was briefly revived in 2021 but dissappeared entirely after the last episode, that same year. Physical fitness became a value with the advent of GulderUltimateSearch. Mental strength, and teamwork were seen as qualities to embrace. Aside these, we perceived the beauty of our Nigerian forests, rivers, and landscapes. The show produced and rewarded winners like Kunle Remi, and Dominic Mudabai, alongside others who showed resilience, mental strength and teamwork. Unfortunately, the show is no longer talk about.
5. Big Brother Naija first appeared in 2006 and dissappeared. They relaunched in 2017. By 2017, MTN project fame, Maltina Dance All, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Gulder Ultimate Search have all dissappeared or were struggling to remain. Few managed to come back but lacked sustainable audience/market drive, and consequently faded out till today.
Ever since then, Big Brother Naija has become an annual reality show that got Nigerians glued 24/7 to their home Tvs/smartphones. It is arguably the biggest social media conversation driver in Nigeria. Every season dominates Twitter, Instagram and TikTok with debates, fan wars and hashtags. The show thrives on romance, fights, ambitions and struggles. These are the spice that Big Brother Naija came in with. Then, our perception of TV reality show shifted from Talent and Intelligence to lifestyle and personality.
Conclusively, notice that from 2004 to 2016, Nigeria was the capital of unique reality TV shows; MTN Project Fame gave us musicians who defined Afropop, Maltina Dance All preserved our cultural dances and promoted family unity, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire made knowledge a pathway to wealth, and Gulder Ultimate Search built resilience, adventure, and love for our natural heritage.
One by one, these shows faded away. Have we moved on?
Big Brother Naija unlike the rest, did not ask for talent, intelligence, or cultural heritage. It only needed lifestyle and personality. Drama, romance, gossip, and ambition, infact anything that Nigerians can debate daily on social media. And since then, it has remained the last reality show standing, dominating conversations every now and then, each year.
My big question is this: Since we traded talent, culture, knowledge, and resilience for lifestyle drama, have we moved forward, or have we only embraced the show that entertains us the most, while letting go of the ones that could have built us the most?
A wise man has added his voice also, I thought I was alone.”