With its rave currently occupying centre stage and several more branching out beside it, it appears that an army of reality television shows has arrived to attack our televisions.
But what exactly are reality television shows, and why are they so popular among Nigerians? What is the story behind them? Where did they come from?
Reality Shows in Nigeria, on the other hand, are a type of television programming that contains unscripted circumstances, documents actual events, and usually features unknown people rather than professional actors.
The purpose of reality shows in Nigeria, as implied by the name, is to cast participants in real-world settings as opposed to the manufactured environment of other genres such as movies and series.
Reality television episodes typically incorporate a variety of traditional clichés and may include regular interviews with the participants, which can also function as the show’s narrative.
Personal tension and drama among the participants may also be emphasized.
Competition-based shows, which are a popular subgroup, typically include aspects such as a panel of judges, one person being eliminated per episode, and the concept of immunity from elimination.
5 Reality Shows in Nigeria
1. Maltina Dance All (2007 – 2016)
Maltina Dance All was one of the popular reality shows in Nigeria. The show made viewers happy by bringing together diverse families from various walks of life to demonstrate their dance abilities, thereby generating an atmosphere of harmony and love.
Individuals auditioned for the show. If chosen, they were required to bring their families into the show, which began with a tour of the households and ended with a competition for the main prize.
Various dance routines were used in the show to produce a correct cultural blend.
Salsa, Hip-hop, Jive, GumBoot, Pantomime, and Wazobia were among the performances.
The hosts were Kemi Adetiba and Osas Ighodaro, with judges Muyiwa Osinaike, Jeffery Page, Jarnell Burgess, and Bimbo Obafunwai. The first edition was won by the Onye family, while the second edition was won by the Opuwari family. Unfortunately, it ended in season 9 with the Adah family.
2. I Am LAYCON
Olamilekan Agbeleshebioba, also known as Laycon, set several records during Big Brother Naija Season 5: he was the first housemate to be verified on Instagram while still inside the house, and he was also the first to gain 1 million followers on the social site while still within the house.
He was named the winner during the show’s conclusion, with a record 60% of the total votes cast.
I Am LAYCON follows him as he pursues his music career after leaving the Big Brother Naija House and settles into a life of success.
The sitcom depicts his life and relationships with family and friends, with cameos from Victoria “Vee” Adeyele and Lilo Aderogba, both Big Brother Naija Lockdown housemates.
3. Nigeria’s Got Talent (2012-2014)
Nigeria’s Got Talent was a knockoff of the British show of the same name. The show, which aired in 2012, was sponsored by Airtel Nigeria.
Unlike other Nigerian TV shows that focus on a certain type of entertainment, Nigeria’s Got Talent was a varied reality TV show aimed at uncovering talents in a variety of areas of the entertainment business.
The judges chose the contestants during a live audition. Judges make comments and either approve or disapprove as they perform.
If the candidate is approved, he or she advances to the next level. The overall winner is determined by the votes of the viewers. Amarachi, an eight-year-old boy, won the first season.
Robots for Christ won the second season before the show was cancelled.
4. Gulder Ultimate Search
Nigerian Breweries Plc created and funded the reality television show Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) to advertise its flagship Gulder brand.
Beginning in 2004, it was the first reality television program in Nigeria with 100 per cent local content.
GUS is a survival-themed reality television program where contestants fight against themselves and the elements while looking for lost riches.
Contestants are often removed, and the winner receives fame and fortune. The 2012 season’s champion received an SUV and N10 million in cash.
Popular series producers include Jungle Filmworks’ Olakunle Oyeneye and Executive Producer Oluseyi Siwoku, with Femi Sowoolu’s famed baritone voice hovering like that of GUS Big Brother. Chidi Mokeme hosted the show.
Gulder Ultimate Search returned to television screens in 2021, after a seven-year break.
5. Big Brother Naija
Okay, you may stop throwing things at me now. The most popular, as well as the most contentious, of all Reality Shows in Nigeria is appropriately called Big Brother Naija.
It also boasts the most enticing cash reward of over N35 million (excluding allowances and other perks).
BBN, as it is frequently shortened, is widely regarded as the ideal platform for achieving popularity and notoriety in the entertainment sector, as housemates are expected to be creative.
The themes of the program include love, drama, intrigue, fun, treachery, and conflict.
Housemates are supposed to live together for a total of three months while completing exercises that test their mental and physical abilities, as well as their gifts.
This reality show in Nigeria is so popular that Nigerians voted 200 million times to keep their favourite housemates in the house during the third season. According to the record, future shows broke this mark.
