Nigerians are nothing if not passionate, especially when it comes to supporting our own. If you’ve ever watched a Nigerian reality show, you’d have witnessed the full force of this unwavering loyalty. From trending hashtags on socials, making merchandise in support to doing the absolute most just, we’ve all seen it. This support has moved through the spectrum, from ridiculous to weird to downright extreme. 

As the third season of The Real Housewives of Lagos is underway, it was only fitting that I talked to Nigerians who have done strange, funny, and ridiculously over-the-top things to show their love and loyalty to their favourite reality stars. 

Here are the weirdest things Nigerians do to support reality TV stars.

“I contributed ₦10,000 to the cause on three different occasions and I’ll do it again.” – Adeife*

My favourite reality show is Big Brother Naija. Being a big fan began in 2017 during the “See Gobe” season. But in 2020, during the “Lockdown” season, I got on a different level of dedication to the show and my favourite, Erica Nlewedim.

I was in a group chat dedicated to Erica, where we made contributions to meet a particular target to buy gifts for her as welcome gifts or birthday gifts. When she got disqualified, everyone in the group chat contributed whatever they had, but it was from ₦5,000 upwards. We even had some Odogwu who gave ₦100k, ₦200k, and more. I used my hard-earned money that wasn’t even sufficient for me and myself alone to support my fave with gifts just to make her smile and know she has an army behind her. I contributed ₦10,000 to the cause on three different occasions.

We had close to millions at the end of it all for the gifting. We got her money towers, lots of money bouquets, designer shoes and dresses, and some household items because we heard some set of rich people got her a house.

I even created a new X account, separate from my normal one, just to comfortably defend and drag whoever comes for Erica unprovoked. When I look back, I think I did it out of love and because I see some traits of those housemates in myself. To me, it was supporting and rooting for someone I do love, have interest in, and do not want to see sad. I’ll do it again, and this time, maybe even contribute more.

“I left my lifestyle YouTube content to review RHOL episodes.” – Njutt*

Real Housewives of Lagos is my thing, and I invested heavily in tweeting or making videos about it—be it my displeasure or love. During Season 2 of the show, I almost wanted to be obnoxious and be one of those people in their comment sections to express my displeasure with Iyabo Ojo and Chioma Goodhair, but I simply unfollowed them and talked about it on my YouTube channel.

I made videos for every episode of Seasons 1 and 2 and TikToks, too, especially for Season 2 and all its drama. I did the show reviews purely because I wanted to talk about them. It didn’t even matter that they were far from the lifestyle vlog content I usually give my audience.

ALSO READ:  “The Real Housewives of Lagos” Cast: Returning Stars, New Faces & Who Left (Season 1 – 3)

“2020 was the last time I stanned someone, and I’d do it again.” – Soma*

My cousins and I were casually watching BBN during the “Lockdown” season in 2020, and we noticed that many housemates and viewers started moving mad with Erica Nlewedim. We wanted to support her and thought of what to do. Then, my cousin and I had the idea to talk to people we know and persuade them to give us their DSTV IUC numbers to make a bulk vote for Erica Nlewedim.

We swung into action and collected these IUC numbers like they were infinity stones. We’d ask friends, our parents, and one time, even the domestic staff. We got a lot of codes, and we were so intentional that my cousin had a note dedicated to keeping them safe, with their names and passwords.

I look back at it, and I can’t believe we really did that. That was the last time I stanned someone, and I’d do it again—my girl (Erica) deserved that win like mad.

“I stayed up and watched Laycon and other housemates while they slept.” – Jonathan*

What do you call it when someone ignores their health and safety in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown to search for an open filling station simply because they need to power the TV to watch Big Brother Naija? It’s an insane level of fandom. Remembering that period, I moved mad because I wanted to watch Laycon—my favourite BBN housemate ever—and his entanglement drama with Erica.

One time, after I got back home from an outing in the evening, NEPA being NEPA made me go out to buy fuel. I told my dad I needed light to charge my phone and do some important things, but the truth of the matter is, I wanted to watch BBN too. Our generator worked from 8:30 PM, and I didn’t turn it off until 1:30 AM when my dad came to the sitting room to ask why I was disturbing the neighbours with the generator noise. I don’t know if it was boredom or something else, but I stayed up and watched Laycon and other housemates while they slept. I think I was weird.

“In retrospect, it gives crackhead vibes because only an addict would do anything to see a person on a reality TV show.” – Omosewa

It was the year 2021 in university. I lived alone off campus and had my electric appliances like TV, DSTV, etc. Turning to DSTV was a regular thing to do at night before sleep, and BBN was my favourite thing. I lived to watch Liquorose.

During that period, I got very broke, my DSTV subscription finished, and I could hardly buy fuel to even charge. So after missing the show for a week and being unable to hype Liquorose and bant people on my WhatsApp status, I summoned the courage to persuade other hostel mates who liked to watch with me to contribute to subscribe to DSTV and buy fuel. A few of them made smart jokes, basically saying I was shameless, but I didn’t care.

But later, clarity hit that I did too much. In retrospect, it gives crackhead vibes because only an addict or someone obsessed would move like that and do anything to see a person on a reality TV show.

ALSO READ: Who Are VVIPS? Uncovering the Dark Underbelly of BBNaija’s Fandom

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