Rwanda will have to wait a little longer to feature in the continent's reality show, Big Brother Africa. This year would have been the first time Rwanda would be represented after a successful initial round of auditions that took place in Kigali in July. According to the organisers, M-Net AfricaMagic, the reason for Rwanda missing out is that there was not sufficient time to procure travel documents for the participants.
Rwanda will have to wait a little longer to feature in the continent’s reality show, Big Brother Africa.
This year would have been the first time Rwanda would be represented after a successful initial round of auditions that took place in Kigali in July. According to the organisers, M-Net AfricaMagic, the reason for Rwanda missing out is that there was not sufficient time to procure travel documents for the participants.
"Due to schedules and logistical constraints there was insufficient time to follow the necessary procedures in order to process the required travel documentation which has recently become a more complex procedure,” part of a statement reads. When contacted, the South African Ambassador to Rwanda, George N. Twala, said the embassy couldn’t do anything to salvage the situation."I’m sure they contacted the embassy over this issue but we couldn’t do anything about it,” he said.
The Minister for Sports and Culture, Joseph Habineza, said he did all he could to help the situation but with little success. .
"I contacted some people at the DSTV office in Abuja, Nigeria and asked them to help me establish what the problem could be, and I was told that it was the problem of issuing visas to the participants,” Habineza said.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to South Africa, Vincent Karega, explained why the visa issue was a challenge.
"We tried to help but since there’s no consular attaché it couldn’t be possible,” Karega said.
Sierra Leone was also left out of this year’s reality show. The show organisers have since promised to improve on their preparations and incorporate the dropped housemates in the future shows.
"M-Net and Endemol SA are confident that they are able to improve the process in order to successfully incorporate Housemates from both countries if there are future editions of the series,” the press release concluded.
Contestants who were said to have the best chances of being in the house include Canadian based musician Frank Joe, comedian Arthur Nkusi, songstress Diana Teta and Ciney.
How Rwandans reacted on social media
Kanam Junior@jkanam
Always thought BBA was a disgrace to our nation. Glad to hear that #Rwanda won’t be taking part in that circus show anymore.
Albert Rudatsimburwa @albcontact
#BigBrother #SA: Africa’s shame...for a country that was once a revolutionary light in racist darkness
BigBroAfrica SA@TeamSA_BBA
#Rwanda and #SierraLeone out of @BigBroAfrica due to same stupid South Africa law changes which forbids visas longer than 30 days. @endemol failed them
Charles Kwizera @CKwizera
I think South Africa is better than this...this is entertainment. Let the boys go and give the housemates a run for the dimes #Rwanda4BBA9
Andrew Nganga but I think that is nice, developing countries should not allow their citizens attention be diverted from work but crap like BBA, honestly these crap like kardashians is an insult to our intelligence
Rakemba Mbabazi I honestly don’t understand how they can do that... We should take stand #RwandaforBBA perhaps?? What happens to our hopefuls? Or we are just too good and scared them?? :(( hmmm
Innocent Ninsiima First it was soccer (Birori issue) now its BBA (South Africa) wonder what’s next?