Nigerian World Cup fans stay home over Boko Haram fears

KANO (AFP) – Danlami Ma’azu stood among a crowd jostling to secure a satellite TV decoder in the Nigerian city of Kano so he could watch the World Cup in the safety of his home — far from the threat of Boko Haram attacks. The Brazil tournament should normally spell weeks of revelry in football-mad Nigeria as crowds gather in giant, often open-air venues to cheer on their heroes. But in the commercial capital of northern Nigeria, hundreds of residents have thronged the local branch of satellite provider DSTV in the past week either to buy the technology or renew their subscriptions. “I’m not comfortable going to any viewing centre due to the Boko Haram threats,” Ma’azu told AFP Thursday, after spending three hours waiting in line. His fears are well-founded: the heavily armed Islamist militant group has previously targeted football fans in its deadly five-year insurgency across northern Nigeria. Just this week, officials in northeast Adamawa state announced the closure of all football viewing centres because of the threat of attack. The ban came a week after 40 people were killed in an explosion at a football pitch, shortly after a match in the town of Mubi, in Adamawa state, which was blamed on Boko Haram. In volatile Plateau state — where three people died in the state capital Jos in a blast targeting crowds watching the European Champions League final — police also ordered all viewing centres to close “because of prevailing security challenges.” “During the World Cup, the tendency is for more people, especially the youth, to be out at odd hours. The closure is to reduce the risk of attacks,” government spokesman Pam Ayuba told AFP on Friday. In April, suspected Boko Haram gunmen also stormed a packed venue in Potiskum, in northeast Yobe state, shooting dead two people as they watched Champions League quarter-final matches. Kano itself has not been spared from violence, including at popular locations for watching football in the heart of the city. - A boon for TV providers - In several videos Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has condemned football and music as part of a Western plot to distract Muslims from their religion and called on viewing centres to close. Kano’s police have recently held talks with officials from the viewing centres operators’ union to discuss security measures to prevent future attacks — notably during the World Cup. “We are taking into account the security situation with regard to football viewing centres,” Kano police spokesman Magaji Majia told AFP. “We have also put our patrol teams on high alert and assigned our intelligence operatives to keep eyes on viewing centres during matches.” Despite the reassurances, fans hoping to catch Nigeria’s “Super Eagles” and the world’s other top teams in action were taking no chances, boosting trade for satellite television vendors. “Business has been really good in the past week,” one DSTV agent said outside the office as private security guards and police intelligence operatives looked on. “Our sales have jumped over 400 percent,” said the agent, who declined to give his name as he was not authorised to speak to the media. DSTV declined to comment. - Crowds stay away - Crowds were thin at many Kano viewing centres on Thursday as Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in the World Cup opener. “We had low patronage last night, with turnout 35 percent lower than usual because many people are afraid coming to watch football due to security fears,” said operator Safiyanu Nasiru. “This is an indication that we are in for a bad business season.” Even those who were brave enough to go to the viewing centres were jittery. “I watched the match in an open-air garden with trepidation because of fear of possible attack,” said one fan, Abdulkadir Ammani. “I chose the open-air garden on purpose so that I could easily escape in the event of attack but I still didn’t enjoy the match.” Back at the shop, Jamilu Ahmad was renewing his subscription after more than a year. In football, it is often said the game is more important than life or death but he said watching on the big screen was not worth the risk. “Life has no duplicate,” the civil servant said. “Once you are dead, you are dead and I can’t risk my life going to a viewing centre to watch the matches. That’s why I’m here.”

We want to be here till the end— Mikel

Nigeria and Chelsea FC midfielder, John Obi Mikel, who is making his debut after missing out on South Africa 2010 due to last minute knee surgery, said that it is a dream come true to play the World Cup in Brazil where the Eagles hope to last the distance. “We want to make sure we stay here till the end of the tournament, we want to play the finals, we want to win the Cup, same as everyone, nothing short of that,” Mikel told journalists. “We want to make sure we go a step ahead of where we normally finish in this tournament. It’s going to be tough but it’s one we’re looking forward to.” His absence four years ago left a huge vacuum in the Nigeria midfield as the Super Eagles lost twice and drew their last match to finish bottom of their group. “It is [a dream come true to play at the World Cup], it is my first World Cup. I missed out on the last one with a knee surgery. This time I’m fit and I’m ready and hopefully we all can have a good tournament,” he said.

Big Brother Africa Season 9 auditions announced

The ninth edition of Africa's biggest reality series Big Brother Africa kicks off in September and fans are already asking who the new housemates be, who will find their names and their faces gracing newspapers, who will become the subject of drive-time radio and just who will find themselves trending on all social media platforms. Unlike previous years, this year's entry process is slightly different as potential housemates are invited to come in their numbers for auditions in their respective country venues. Auditions will take place at venue on date. AfricaMagic has always been associated with unearthing, nurturing and recognising talent from around the continent and Big Brother Africa is one of the shows that have become known for transforming ordinary citizens into stars. "We are very grateful and remain pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming response that the show has been receiving over the years. We look forward to the selection of our potential housemates coming in large numbers to auditions at the specified venues and take that chance at being the next Big Brother star," says M-Net Africa Regional Director (West Africa) Wangi Wa- Uzoukwu . "The fact that the fans truly adore the show is all the motivation we need to keep it fresh and that is always made possible by the enthusiastic and fun-loving young Africans who will answer to Big Brother. We are rearing to go and we know that this will definitely be another exciting season that is full of quality entertainment!" she adds. Her sentiments are echoed by Endemol MD Sivan Pillay who says, "We have been producing this series for M-Net for a number of seasons now and as partners, together we have seen this show grow to the phenomenon that it has become. We hope the season will be even better as we strive to improve on our offering season after season. We will not hold back on the quality and exciting unpredictability that has become synonymous with Big Brother Africa. Audiences and fans can expect yet another high quality production and of course, another group of fun-loving housemates who will keep you guessing on who will be left standing come day 91." MultiChoice Africa CEO Nico Meyer says: "As MultiChoice Africa we are always pleased to welcome each new season of Big Brother Africa onto our platforms and we applaud its amazing success and ability to bring together audiences from all across the continent. The inclusion of Rwanda in this season is even more exciting as this displays that our reach and growth into the various sub-Saharan markets is going from strength to strength. We look forward to seeing further growth as well as the impressive social media presence that the show enjoys." All persons over the age of 21, who are citizens of one of the participating countries and have a valid passport, can enter Big Brother Africa 9. If you are open-minded, bold and adventurous, that's even better! Previous editions of Big Brother Africa have boasted huge cash prizes for winners and this it is no different as the prize money is $300 000. Remember, entries are open to the following 14 countries: Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Big Brother Africa 9 will be screened live 24/7 on DStv channels 197 and 198 while GOtv audiences will see highlights of the show, which begins on Sunday, 7 September and is scheduled to run for 91 days. Big Brother Africa is produced by Endemol SA. Audition Details - Botswana - Gabarone (Cresta President Hotel): 4 and 5 July 2014 - Ethiopia - Addis Ababa (Capital Hotel and Spa): 30 June 2014 - Ghana - Accra (Holiday Inn Hotel Airport): 5 and 6 July 2014 - Kenya - Nairobi, The Hilton Nairobi: 3 and 4 July 2014 - Malawi - Lilongwe (The Crossroads Hotel): 30 June and 1 July 2014 - Namibia - Windhoek (Hilton Hotel): 8 and 9 July 2014 - Nigeria - Lagos (Protea Hotel Leadway, Ikeja): 30 June and 1 July 2014 - Rwanda - Kigali (The Lemigo Hotel) 9 July 2014 - Sierra Leone - Free Town (The Country Lodge Complex): 9 July 2014 - South Africa - Johannesburg (The Pyramid Venue and Conference Center): 30 June and 1 July 2014 - Tanzania - Dar Es Salaam (New Africa Hotel): 11 and 12 July 2014 - Uganda - Kampala (Sheraton Hotel): 7 and 8 July 2014 - Zambia - Lusaka (InterContinental Hotel): 4 and 5 July 2014 - Zimbabwe - Harare (The Meikles Hotel): 12 and 13 July 2014

The ninth edition of Africa's biggest reality series Big Brother Africa kicks off in September and fans are already asking who the new housemates be, who will find their names and their faces gracing newspapers, who will become the subject of drive-time radio and just who will find themselves trending on all social media platforms. Unlike previous years, this year's entry process is slightly different as potential housemates are invited to come in their numbers for auditions in their respective country venues. Auditions will take place at venue on date. AfricaMagic has always been associated with unearthing, nurturing and recognising talent from around the continent and Big Brother Africa is one of the shows that have become known for transforming ordinary citizens into stars. "We are very grateful and remain pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming response that the show has been receiving over the years. We look forward to the selection of our potential housemates coming in large numbers to auditions at the specified venues and take that chance at being the next Big Brother star," says M-Net Africa Regional Director (West Africa) Wangi Wa- Uzoukwu . "The fact that the fans truly adore the show is all the motivation we need to keep it fresh and that is always made possible by the enthusiastic and fun-loving young Africans who will answer to Big Brother. We are rearing to go and we know that this will definitely be another exciting season that is full of quality entertainment!" she adds. Her sentiments are echoed by Endemol MD Sivan Pillay who says, "We have been producing this series for M-Net for a number of seasons now and as partners, together we have seen this show grow to the phenomenon that it has become. We hope the season will be even better as we strive to improve on our offering season after season. We will not hold back on the quality and exciting unpredictability that has become synonymous with Big Brother Africa. Audiences and fans can expect yet another high quality production and of course, another group of fun-loving housemates who will keep you guessing on who will be left standing come day 91." MultiChoice Africa CEO Nico Meyer says: "As MultiChoice Africa we are always pleased to welcome each new season of Big Brother Africa onto our platforms and we applaud its amazing success and ability to bring together audiences from all across the continent. The inclusion of Rwanda in this season is even more exciting as this displays that our reach and growth into the various sub-Saharan markets is going from strength to strength. We look forward to seeing further growth as well as the impressive social media presence that the show enjoys." All persons over the age of 21, who are citizens of one of the participating countries and have a valid passport, can enter Big Brother Africa 9. If you are open-minded, bold and adventurous, that's even better! Previous editions of Big Brother Africa have boasted huge cash prizes for winners and this it is no different as the prize money is $300 000. Remember, entries are open to the following 14 countries: Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Big Brother Africa 9 will be screened live 24/7 on DStv channels 197 and 198 while GOtv audiences will see highlights of the show, which begins on Sunday, 7 September and is scheduled to run for 91 days. Big Brother Africa is produced by Endemol SA. Audition Details - Botswana - Gabarone (Cresta President Hotel): 4 and 5 July 2014 - Ethiopia - Addis Ababa (Capital Hotel and Spa): 30 June 2014 - Ghana - Accra (Holiday Inn Hotel Airport): 5 and 6 July 2014 - Kenya - Nairobi, The Hilton Nairobi: 3 and 4 July 2014 - Malawi - Lilongwe (The Crossroads Hotel): 30 June and 1 July 2014 - Namibia - Windhoek (Hilton Hotel): 8 and 9 July 2014 - Nigeria - Lagos (Protea Hotel Leadway, Ikeja): 30 June and 1 July 2014 - Rwanda - Kigali (The Lemigo Hotel) 9 July 2014 - Sierra Leone - Free Town (The Country Lodge Complex): 9 July 2014 - South Africa - Johannesburg (The Pyramid Venue and Conference Center): 30 June and 1 July 2014 - Tanzania - Dar Es Salaam (New Africa Hotel): 11 and 12 July 2014 - Uganda - Kampala (Sheraton Hotel): 7 and 8 July 2014 - Zambia - Lusaka (InterContinental Hotel): 4 and 5 July 2014 - Zimbabwe - Harare (The Meikles Hotel): 12 and 13 July 2014