By Selma Neshiko
WINDHOEK– After spending more than two months in the Big Borther Africa Hotshot house, Tanzanian, 21-year-old Idris is this year’s ultimate Hotshot with N$3 439 770 (USD 300 000) in the bank, becoming the second Tanzanian to hit the bonanza after Richard Bezuidenhoudt who won the 2007 edition.
He picked up an avalanche of viewer votes from the continent after 63 days of fun, drama and intrigue to become the hottest of the Hotshots in the ninth season of the continent’s most epic reality show. Time Out’s Selma Neshiko asked him the secret to winning the game. “Personality is the key. I was just being myself, I didn’t have to try. I didn’t know what Africa thought of me or what they wanted me to change but now Africa changed my life,” he says. Idris adds that he did not expect to win as he was grooming his breath. When asked what he would do know that he has won the money, Idris says he’ll have to lookout the people he mingles with from now on. “It will be hard to get into a relationship right now, because you don’t know who is real and whose not. I’m not going to get involved with anyone right now but I’ll let fate decide,” he says, adding that he will be giving back to Africa by working on projects targeting the youth, and also plans on expanding his Graphic Company I-View Studios.
Idris saw off the challenge of 25 other housemates through nine weeks of extravaganzas, weekly tasks, ‘freeze’ challenges and even an epic prank in true Big Brother style. After he’d picked himself up off the floor after the announcement, Idris told IK he was feeling exhausted after the “long ride”. “Big love to everyone in Africa, I have so much love out there, I’m going to give back every single day,” says the celeb from Arusha. The show kicked off with a show-stopping performance from 17 evicted housemates, who got the chance to remind the continent of their Hotshots credentials. The glamorous finale was a star-studded affair, also featuring performances by the One Campaign Artists, Nigerian star M.I. and South Africa’s Unathi Msengana. Even the top eight housemates got in on the action, with a performance of their own to sum up their time in the house!
IK took viewers back through all 63 days of Big Brother Hotshots, with reminders of the Hotshots’ stellar performances during the extravaganza tasks, the tender moments – and the explosive ones – they all shared, and all the fun they had learning about each other’s cultures, countries and personalities. Evictions were never far from everyone’s minds, though, and when the SizweNtsalubaGobodo auditor delivered a bulging envelope to IK on stage, he got down to business. Over the course of the show, he evicted Butterphly, M’am Bea, JJ, Sipe, Nhlanhla and Macky2 from the house in pairs, leaving Idris and Tayo to count their lucky stars as the rest of the Hotshots looked on enviously from the stage.
As the time drew nearer, Big Brother summoned the duo to the Diary Room for a final few words of encouragement before sending them out of the house to join IK on stage, through a curtain of fireworks. Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, M-Net’s Regional Director for West Africa was delighted with the way Big Brother Hotshots played out. “The behind-the-scenes team overcame some astounding obstacles to get this season of Big Brother Africa on-air – and they delivered a show that was bigger, better, more dramatic and more entertaining than ever before,” she said. “Congratulations to Idris on being named the winner of Big Brother Hotshots – and thank you to the rest of the housemates for providing the entire continent with 63 days of phenomenal entertainment”.
Sivan Pillay, Managing Director of Endemol South Africa said: “We are very proud to have produced another great season of Big Brother Africa. Despite the devastating setback of the fire, it has been a monumental achievement to entertain the continent with our broadcast partner MultiChoice”.