Big Brother Naija, the reality TV sensation that captivates millions of viewers across Nigeria, is not just about catfights, alliances, relationships and drama. Beneath the surface, the housemates are society’s mirror and represent what typically happens. It is easy to argue that the show does so well because fans get to live vicariously through the housemates since they do things the fans can either relate to or want the courage to try. Interestingly, food lies in the middle of all the drama and shapes the housemates’ interactions and strategies.
Diehard and longtime fans of the show will agree that there is a psychology behind the kitchen and food in the house. Generally, food fosters community and connection and can sometimes cause dependency and conflict. However, as with all other things in the Biggieverse, the power of food is amplified, and it plays a crucial role in how fans shape the housemates’ narratives, some of the drama and even strategy.
Inside the Biggieverse, where emotions are always high and strategic gameplay abound, food often becomes a common denominator that brings the housemates together. From group cooking sessions to shared meals, it forms the basis of bonding and camaraderie. Past editions recall cherished memories of laughing, conversing, and supporting each other while cooking and dining. The experience of communal cooking not only creates a sense of belonging but also fosters a supportive atmosphere among the housemates. It explains why Big Brother always positions the kitchen at a central corner of the house.
The power of food is also evident in the ongoing All-Stars edition, which brings back past contestants to relive their memories of the house. This new season has revealed four housemates with an unusual attachment to the kitchen. Frodd, Venita, Uriel, and Whitemoney show a strong interest in cooking. It is, however, pertinent to consider if their penchant for cooking remains just a mere flair or a strategy.
As the saying goes, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” the same holds within the walls of the Biggieverse. Certain housemates have recognized the strategic potential of their culinary skills and leveraged them to gain favour and maintain a competitive edge. One such case study is Rico Swavey, who took over from Princess during the See Gobe season as the house chef. It was one of the many things that endeared the smiley guy to many of his housemates at the time.
Another case study is Whitemoney from the ‘Shine Ya Eye’ edition. He carved a niche with his exceptional cooking skills, evaded eviction and ultimately emerged victorious, clinching the ?90m grand prize. Although he is back for the All-Stars edition as a certified star, his activities in the house reveal his attachment to the kitchen. But who can blame him? Food helped him win and became a secondary income source afterwards.
The culinary journey doesn’t always end with BBNaija. The exposure to cooking on national television has opened doors for several former housemates to pursue food-related careers beyond the show. BBNaija See Gobe housemate, Miyonse, is one of Nigeria’s famous private chefs. Lockdown’s Lucy also wooed her fellow housemates with mouth-watering delicacies, and cooking eventually became her most significant money-making venture after her eviction.
Amid the camaraderie, food becomes a double-edged sword, leading to dependency and conflicts in the house. When housemates lose their wager, they are more likely to fight for food as rationed supplies dwindle. Often, it becomes ‘survival of the fittest’ as the housemates ensure they have enough to sustain them till they redeem themselves and receive more provisions. Other times, fights emerge between housemates claiming the kitchen or with different cooking styles. There have also been ‘cheating and unfairness’ accusations, leading to big blowouts.
In the last season – Level Up – the housemates engaged in multiple fights over food. One of the more iconic food fights was between Bella and Phyna, which led to Sheggz and Groovy’s face-off. There was the explosive fight between Sheggz and Adekunle, and then Rachel and Bella, where the latter spilt the food they were arguing about on her counterpart. Every season has a significant food fight. Fans will recall the big Ka3na and Tbaj fallout over food during the Lockdown season and several other moments during Pepper Dem, See Gobe, Double Wahala and Shine Ya Eye.
Even where there is no food-causing drama, the kitchen still presents some of the most memorable times, like Tolanibaj’s unforgettable ‘kobosi kobosi’ moment and countless ‘ship’ moments – with people like Sheggz and Bella, Bam Bam and Teddy A, Eric and Lilo, or even the now frenemies Seyi and Tacha.
This season, the power of food has come into play again. This time, it has divided the house into two teams – the healthy and unhealthy eaters. Uriel stands at the helm of clean eating, streamlining calories and using the best spices, while Whitemoney makes delicious meals with no thought to calories or any such thing. Whitemoney proved he’s the king of the kitchen since his first run in the Biggieverse, but he has returned this All-Stars season to continue the dominance, and it doesn’t sit well with other housemates.
On day 8 of the show, Uriel called him out, saying he was unhappy about her activities in the BBNaija kitchen. The conversation continued the next day as Uriel told Angel, “This isn’t the first time I’ve offered Whitemoney my food, and he has rejected it. I’ve offered to help in the kitchen – no. When I’m in the kitchen, he gets restless, sighs a lot, and watches me when I’m cooking. I’m like it’s not a competition!” Whitemoney had a different perspective telling a group of housemates, “This is the same reason I said I will not cook again because this was the same thing Pere said the last time and that ‘strategy’ narrative was just flying. Pere said I was trying to monopolise the kitchen, but Uriel and I don’t eat the same food. She eats healthy, and I eat unhealthy, e no concern me.”
These situations lead one to ask – Does food truly hold the housemates together? And if it does, are those at the centre of ensuring everyone is well-fed in an advantageous position? Are future housemates reviewing and taking notes? And, will more people show up in the Biggieverse with cooking at the centre of their strategy?
However, right now, there is a question more significant than the rest, and we’ll leave you to answer it. Here it goes – Who is using cooking to foster community and connection in the BBNaija All-Stars game, and who is using it as a weapon for dependency and a type of strategy?
Food profoundly shapes the show’s dynamics, from building connections and strategically leveraging cooking skills to sparking conflicts and dependency issues. As we continue to witness the drama unfold in the ongoing All-Stars season, it is clear that it will remain a potent force, impacting housemate relationships and strategies and providing a window into the complex mind of housemates.
Don’t miss the drama by tuning in to the 24/7 channel – DStv ch. 198 and GOtv ch. 49. Remember, if you are away from home and don’t want to miss a minute of the action, you can catch up with your favorite All-Star housemates on the DStv Stream app or Showmax. For more information about the show and programming, visit https://www.dstv.com/africamagic/en-ng/show/big-brother-naija.
Moniepoint Nigeria is the headline sponsor for the BBNaija All-Stars Edition and HFM – forex and commodities broker is the associate sponsor.
