Nigeria’s Karen Igho Wins Big Brother Africa

Big Brother Africa is a television program produced by Endemol. The show initially involved 12 countries within Africa (Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) with two countries (Ethiopia and Mozambique) being added in season 4. Each country produces a contestant living in an isolated house while trying to avoid being evicted by viewers and ultimately winning a large cash prize at the end of the show.

 A Nigerian, Karen Igho, yesterday became the first female winner of Africa's biggest reality TV show, Big Brother Africa (BBA). She emerged the co-winner of the $ 400,000 prize money alongside Zimbabwe's Wendall Parson. She got a six-country vote: Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania and the Rest of Africa, regarded in the show as one country, to claim her prize.

In the build-up to the final day of the 91-day action-packed program, the Nigerian model was widely tipped to emerge tops. She did not disappoint. Igho endured a hard time in the house as she was labeled 'uncouth, cantankerous and scattered' by the viewers of the show.

Igho looked unruffled throughout the grand finale and she was ecstatic when the presenter, Nigeria's Ikponmwonsa Osakioduwa; announced her as one of the winners of the show. Ahead of the final day, Karen stated that she had entertained Africa and hoped she was the person they would choose. She related a story about having come from a broken home and struggling throughout her childhood.