And it’s timely, because few things unite Nigerians quite like the cultural spectacle of colour, flavour, sound, and sheer generosity. From lace fabrics and gele architecture to small chops, jollof rice, and amala to Fuji music and Afrobeats, everyone has their soft spot. And when the Season 10 housemates were asked what excites them most about these legendary parties, their answers painted a vibrant picture of what Owambe truly means.

The food lovers’ table

If Owambe had a throne, food would sit on it. And, unsurprisingly, several of the 10/10 housemates agree. When we caught up with Kuture, Denari, Bright Morgan, Mensan, and Tracy ahead of the season 10 launch, they didn’t hesitate to pledge allegiance to item 7. Whether it’s smoky jollof, spicy small chops, or amala, gbegiri, and ewedu, their hearts beat for the buffet. Ivatar also leaned heavily into food, though she cheekily admitted fashion and music tug at her as well. For this group, owambe is best remembered by what’s on the plate.

Fashionistas in full glamour

For others, Owambe isn’t owambe without the fashion drama. Isabella, Zita, Mide, Thelma Lawson, Imisi, Dede and Faith swooned over aso ebi in our frank catch-up. They gushed about gele magic and the thrill of outshining one another. “God! The pop of colour! Drama! It’s all amazing,” Dede gushed, echoing the sentiment that the runway truly lives inside the party hall. From beaded lace corset gowns to heavily embroidered flowing agbadas, these housemates see owambe as the ultimate fashion Olympics.

The rhythm keepers

Big Soso may not rate her dancing skills, but music is her Owambe lifeline. The idea of hearing forgotten jams excites her as much as the electric beats of Fuji, Juju and Afrobeats. Jason Jae ranked music as his top pick too, followed by fashion and food. And Sultana, torn between food and music, made it clear that sound is inseparable from the soul of owambe. These housemates remind us that no matter the menu or the outfits, the party is only alive when the drums kick in.

The “all of the above” squad

Then there are the housemates who simply couldn’t choose. Doris insisted she needed both food and fashion, while Rooboy declared all aspects his favourite. Koyin, the Gen Z party lover, spoke passionately about everything from amala and ewedu to aso ebi envy and Fuji rhythms. Kaybobo painted the full cultural scene - outfits, people, food, music and even spraying money “bundle by bundle.” Joanna refused to split her heart between fashion and music, while Kola summed it up best: “Actually, I can’t pick one. Everything.”

Owambe: A collective artistry

One thing is clear, Owambe means different things to different people and that’s exactly why it thrives. For some, it’s the unforgettable taste of smoky jollof; for others, the glittering lace that steals the spotlight; for yet others, the pulsating beats that pull everyone to the dance floor. But for many, it’s all of these threads woven together into one dazzling cultural fabric.

And that’s the magic of Owambe: no matter where your heart lies, food, fashion, music or all of the above, you never leave without feeling like you’ve been part of something bigger than yourself.

All housemates are up for possible eviction this week, with the exception of Head of House and Most Influential Player Of The Week Faith, Mensan who has Red Envelope Immunity, and Zita who was saved by the HoH via tree of trinkets. You have until this Thursday at 22:00 WAT (23:00 CAT) to vote (hyperlink) for your favourite 10/10 housemate. Watch BB Naija season 10 live 24/7, on DStv Channel 198, GOtv Channel 49, and on Showmax. Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for all the gist. BBNaija season 10 is proudly brought to you by our Gold sponsor, Guinness Nigeria.