Sunday, August 24, 2008 witnessed a meeting of the 12 Big Brother Africa (BBA) Housemates from 12 African countries as Mnet launched the third edition of its continental reality show. The 12 Housemates, who were drawn from Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have once again been plucked from their homes and their lives to live together, away from the outside world for 91 days for the grand prize of $100,000.

The potpourri of participants for the third edition of the famous reality show include: Hazel Warren from Malawi, a PA and also runs a bridal business. This 25 year old holds an Advanced Diploma in Travel Tourism and Hospitality and has worked at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in the last four years; 21 year old secretary, Latoya, from Tanzania whose fondest memory is the time she spent with her first love.

Also in the house is Lucille, 21-year-old Namibian who promises her audience laughters and tears while the show lasts. 27 year old Mimi from Ghana is the Personal Assistant to a CEO, and promises to cause confusion in the house by being herself and partly not. The 29-year-old Morris who is representing Uganda said he is adventurous and a jack of many trades, and has his hopes set on reaching Hollywood. Morris is a photographer and model, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree as well as diplomas in Performing Arts and Media Studies. The father of one daughter dislikes racism, war mongering, hypocrisy and failure.

Representing Zimbabwe is 22-year-old Munya who is passionate about acting, film and television. His aspiration is to launch a production company. 21-year-old Ricco who has lived in four countries in two continents and said his prize money would go to his mom's project represents Angola. Beautiful Sheila, the 23-year-old Kenyan is a former TV reporter, pursuing a degree in International Relations.

Charismatic rapper, Takondwa, is the 25-year-old who is representing Zambia, just like his first album, he promises to 'keep it real.' The oldest housemate is 31-year-old Tawana from Botswana who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and is also a goat farmer. 26-year-old Thami is an entrepreneur, studying Economics, representing South Africa; the young man who speaks Mandarin Chinese aspires to become a millionaire this year. Finally, there is 25-year-old Uti who will be following the footsteps of Bayo and Ofuneka by representing Nigeria this current edition of the show. The student cum model appeared on the Nigerian reality series Next Movie Star, on which he was the runner-up, before being selected for Big Brother Africa III.

Speaking at the launch, the managing director of MultiChoice Nigeria, Joseph Hundah, said sex-related images and escapades that generated heated controversy in the past are going to be restricted in this edition. MultiChoice Nigeria had to iron out all gray areas with the National Broadcasting Commission, the Senate and House of Representatives, before it got the nod to broadcast BBA III.

In his words, "for the Shower Hour, it will be moved to later time and we are going restrict the programmes in terms of sex on the channel itself."

MultiChoice boss explained that while the package will remain as lively as ever, images of the shower hour are due to be protected. "I think we've come a little tighter in terms of what would come out on air on the programme," he said in a soft accent.

Hundah said: "This is why we felt most of the criticisms about BBA were very premature and unfair because you can't criticise something that doesn't exist. That it is in existence means that there are rooms for improvements and adjustments, wherever necessary.

"I am assuring viewers that the programme is going to be as entertaining as it has always be. The focus will largely be on the relationship between the kinds of people with diverse backgrounds and cultures, who will live together for a long period of time, forging unity, perseverance resilience and possibilities that communal spirits bring."

Hundah spoke on the programme, saying, "We had been debating the segments that have got to do with sex even before any form of accusation started." He added, "We actually went to them, the NBC, the Senate and House of Representatives. We told to them, 'we are out to launch Big Brother 2008, and any comment and advice from your side will impact progressively on what we are doing."

He said, "if we can find out the way the photos, a few months after curtain fell on BBA II, some bathroom and bedroom photos from the reality show filtered to the Internet, got out, we would take issues with whoever is involved. It is stealing. You are not supposed to dub any photo from our television programme or from the Internet without taking permission. So that is stealing. We are trying to find out the source of that E-mail that relayed the photos. But we have resolved not to allow such to happen again."