Big Brother Africa has unveiled 3 housemates for Season 9 of the show, tagged “Hotshots”. They are Alusa from Kenya, Ellah from Uganda and Butterphly from Zimbabwe.
Season 9 of the hugely popular MNet series was due to start on September 7 but had to be postponed due to a September 2 fire outbreak at Sasani Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa where the show usually holds.
The show has now been billed to start on October 5 at a new venue, also in South Africa. Find the housemates’ photos and profiles below:
ALUSA – Kenya
Alusa. Age: 33. Actor, Radio Drama Director and MC Alusafrom Nairobi, Kenya, is married and has three children. His favourite food is ugali with chicken stew and traditional vegetables. His favourite book is TD Jakesโ He-Motions and he likes watching National Geographic, The Exes and Nigerian movies on TV.
On the music front, he enjoys listening to Sauti-Sol, Mafikizolo, P.Square, YoussouNโDour and Salif Keita. One of his favourite films, Training Day, features one of his favourite actors: Denzel Washington. Describing himself as โambitious, spiritual, out-spoken, generous and mysteriousโ, Alusa likes people who are โdetailedโ and who have a good sense of humour, because he likes to laugh.
He doesnโt enjoy people who โemit negative energyโ. He entered Big Brother Hotshots for the exposure, as well as the intrigue of living with total strangers in a closed environment and the desire to share his lifestyle with a huge audience. Alusa is looking forward to having the continent watching him: โIโm an artist, a performer, so I love attention.
Iโm not in the least bit intimidated, in fact, Iโm thrilledโ Alusa lists Mombasa and his village of Kakamega as his favourite places in Kenya, because theyโre both very exotic in their ways and rich culture. He says the best thing about Africa is the people. โAfricans are both beautiful in form and diverse culture,โ he says. Outside of Africa, his favourite place is Brazil. โRich culture, beautiful women, sweet samba music, festivals, food โ I could go on and on,โ he says.
ELLAH – Uganda
Ellah – Age: 23 (pictured right)Ellahis a Sales Assistant with a BSc in Business Computing from Nsambya, Uganda. She lists her favourite foods as ravioli, rice and chicken and her favourite books as Think Like A Man, Act Like A Lady, and Nice Girls Donโt Get Rich.
She enjoys watching Reality shows like Real Housewives of Atlanta, New York and Orange County. Her favourite singers include India Arie, August Alsina, Beyonce, Rihanna and Sam Smith. Her favourite place in Uganda is the Lake Bunyonyi Resort and she says the best thing about Africa is โthe warmness of the peopleโ. Outside of her home country, she says Cambodia is โa hidden gem and somewhat a free countryโ.
Ellah has 12 brothers and sisters and says her Mom is her role model: โher strength and character captivate meโ. Ellah is most proud of having become Miss Uganda 2013/14 because โit was a stiff competition and a strong test for meโ. She was inspired to enter Big Brother Hotshots because of the fact that โit unites Africa and also is a platform for me to advanceโ.
She says sheโs โsuper excited and is looking forward to being on the show. She describes herself as โcharismatic, bitchy, outspoken, loving and sophisticatedโ and says that sheโs โstrong and determinedโ. She values โhonesty, charisma and joyfulnessโ in others, but dislikes โlies and fakenessโ.If she wins the grand prize Ellah will buy cars for her mom and invest the rest in real estate.
BUTTERPHLY-ZIMBABWE
Butterphly – Age: 24 Butterphly is a Radio, Television Presenter and Producer from Harare. She lists her favourite foods as meat, pasta with cheese, black-eyed peas and eggs. Her favourite books include the Bible, The Firm, The Long Goodbye, and the Sherlock Holmes series.
She likes to watch Chopped, 24, Intelligence and Big Brother Africa. Butterphly entered Big Brother Hotshots because sheโd always wanted to be part of a national sports team, but never got the chance. โBeing on Big Brother Africa will allow me to take the opportunity to market myself and expand my brandโ. She says she wonโt use โbackstabbing and cheatingโ or immoral and unethical methods to get the prize.
If she wins, heโll send her sister, brother and kids to really good schools, start a chain of unique food, social and fashion hangout joints and take her mom shopping. Describing herself as โunique, feisty, mysterious, fun-loving and wittyโ, Butterphly says that people are always shocked when they discover that heโs humble, compassionate and kind. He likes other people with a sense of humour, honour and truthfulness, and dislikes โdishonesty and people who pretend to like a personโ.
Her mom is her role model: โshe put her life on pause so ours could play. Sheโs the hardest working woman I knowโ. Butterphly says he draws influence from โall sorts of peopleโ. โOrdinary, young, dead, legends โ in everyoneโs life story I try to extract important lessons like resilience, faith, strength etc. I learn as much as I can from the people I meet or read about,โ she says.
