On the African continent, winning Big Brother takes a lot of grit, luck, and tried-and-true strategies. Over the years, many housemates have devised a variety of plans or strategies, but only a select few succeeded; so let's take a look at previous champions and the approach that almost certainly helped them win the title.
Efe
Big Brother Naija returned to television in 2017 after a lengthy break, with Efe winning the season's grand prize. How did he do this? He probably won the audience's affection by making a connection to his roots. He was a proud Warri boy who never shied away from letting people know that he had ties to his hometown and the streets where he grew up. His gestures and demeanour were viewed by the public as those of a person who was "real" and deserving of the season's top prize.
Mandla Hlatshwayo
Big Brother South Africa returned after a long hiatus as Big Brother Mzansi. Mandla emerged as the season's winner upon its return. His witty nature and his relationship with Lexi made him a fan favourite and winner of the season.
Miracle
Miracle became a fan favourite of Big Brother Naija: Double Wahala due to his combination of good looks and loverboy personality. He initially caught viewers' attention when he was spotted having a steamy shower moment with housemate Nina. Despite maintaining a cool demeanour, he consistently won Biggie's tasks and quickly set himself apart as a focused individual. This set him on the path to winning the crown for the season.
Ace Khumalo & Ntombi Tshabalala
In Big Brother Mzansi: Double Trouble, Soweto sweethearts Ace and Ntombi won viewers' hearts. The two were well-known for their outgoing personalities, which helped them get through many weeks in Biggie's House to place among the top two couples in the competition and ultimately win.
Mercy
The Big Brother Naija: Pepper Dem queen was entertaining to watch. In addition to being a stunning beauty, Mercy, won the hearts of many with her fun personality, earning her the title "Queen of Highlights". Fans also enjoyed her constant back-and-forth with her in-house boyfriend, Ike. Every week, the two set tongues wagging with their steamy sessions, fights, and comedic moments. All of these factors combined propelled Mercy to win the season's crown.
Laycon
Laycon's ascent to the title of Big Brother Naija: Lockdown champion was a complete departure from the norm. He became the favourite of many viewers because of his book smarts and musical prowess.
It was as if he had psychic abilities to detect why fans adored him because he seemed to capitalise on this, taking advantage of opportunities to educate his fellow housemates on a variety of topics.
He also rose to prominence on the show as a result of his unrequited feelings for Erica. Their constant squabbles, combined with Laycon's attitude as a love-lost pup, earned him a few extra points on the popularity poll.
Whitemoney
The Big Brother Naija: Shine Ya Eye’s Odogwu entered the competition with the mindset of a winner, which was evident in his strategy of being of service to his fellow housemates. Week after week, Whitemoney ruled the kitchen, cooking delectable meals for the house. His housemate Pere thought this attitude was suspicious and tried in vain to have Whitemoney removed from kitchen duties.
Despite appearing to be a wise move, Pere's attempt failed because the other residents of the house were unwilling to fill the void left by Whitemoney. Many viewers were won over by his comedic and "down-to-earth" attitude because they felt that he was being true to himself.
Mphowabadimo
The traditional healer from Daveytown used her relationships with her housemates strategically in Big Brother Mzansi: Beke Le Beke. After an unsuccessful relationship with Libo, she was able to get through the season with the help of housemates like Nthabii who encouraged her to keep pushing for success. She found the house to be chaotic, but she persevered to win, making history by becoming the first solo female winner of Big Brother Mzansi.
Phyna
By taking a cue from the book of "realness", Phyna entered the home unapologetic about her time spent on the "streets" and how it helped to mould her into the person she is. Her time in the Big Brother Naija: Level Up house was spiced up by her relationship with Groovy, who was in a love triangle. She was positioned for success by her outgoing nature, which ultimately made her the season's victor.
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