The CEO and pioneer of the first televised reality TV show in Sierra Leone (Big Sister Salone), Zainab Sheriff breaks silence over recent developments in the country’s entertainment sector, when another TV show was set up against her own show. But the confident Zainab says “healthy competition inspires growth”, which restores hope to her huge fan base.
Just over a week ago, Zainab’s former partners, AYV and Africell announced the return of ‘Housemates Salone’ on the 13th October 2020, the same month Zainab’s Zedzee Multimedia Company has announced for ‘BIG SISTER SEASON 2’ few months ago. This announcement by AYV and Africell was received with mixed feelings. In as much as some see it as a competition (the more, the merrier), many also believe it is an ‘unhealthy competition’ to run two big shows in a very small industry like ours. Many believe the timing is wrong, and it is a deliberate ploy by Zainab’s rivals to make her show unsuccessful. AYV already has the platform to host the show, backed up by the financial power of Africell as one if the leading telecoms in Sierra Leone, as oppose to Zainab who is starting from scratch. The backlashes on social media were too much from the fans, many preferring to them as “corporate bullies”.
To the surprise of all, Zainab made a Facebook post on Tuesday 3rd August 2020, accepting the competition/challenge.
“The tension is kinda high for our fans, we feel ur concerns, love, surpport and quite frankly that has kept us going even with The Corona Virus Vybe.”
“BUT HEALTHY COMPETITION IS GOOD FOR THE INDUSTRY,” Zainab wrote.
She also shared two photos taken from the Big Sister village, purposely constructed for the show, showing how hard her company has invested resources, time and passion to give her fans something unique from Sierra Leone. She chose not to rent a house for the show but design something fascinating.
Zainab on the Big Sister garden
“These are two pics from our set, one I took few days ago the other I just took from where I’m seated now.
“We were not ready to reveal yet but I see these pics as fit and appropriate for this post and by September 2020 we shall reveal our whole set to our fans,” she added.
“We constructed our set from ground-up, not untill you see everything about the visual you can’t imagine how much work and effort and money and passion that has gone into our project. WE WILL TELL YOU MORE WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT ”
“We have not worked this long, this hard just to compete, we have purpose and investors and sponsors who believe enough to invest in us fans who are ever so loyal no matter what. We also have 35 women whom we can’t just use and manipulate for the sake of competing with an opponent that is unrelated to them, that will be very disrespectful and unfair.”
“Also we think the Sierra Leone entertainment industry has been starved enough, its time we give them to taste.”
“The industry can host as many shows as possible at the same time, let’s for once give our people the chance to pick and choose. This was long coming and way overdue.”
“I promise you that my greatest weakness is that I’m not afraid, never.”
“If our industry is to grow we have got to challenge our abilities to create and recreate finner arts.”
“The Big Sister Empowerment Show: Is a show where women compete to be great.”
“The whole idea is built around competition, we are absolutely cool with challenges .
“If you give us space, we will do great, if you compete with us, we will do even greater, if you take our lives for this then we have proven our points.”
ENTERTAINMENT IN SIERRA LEONE IS WORTHY.
BSS2
NOWOMANNOCRY
From her lamentation above, it is clear that ‘Di Mami Na Power’ is not distracted from her goals in empowering women across Sierra Leone and beyond. The ‘all-female’ reality TV show will host 35 African women drawn from different walks of life in a village resort, depicting a true African setting, culture and practice. The show will be available on national and international television channels. The show was originally slated for April 2020 but the organisers held back due to the deadly COVID-19 outbreak, but it is now expected to go live on the 4th October 2020.
Source: vertexmedia.sl
