By Amin Kef Sesay
Based on what this medium has gathered so far, it seems that interested members of the public are frantically voting for the contestants of their choice whom they believe could make it to the House on the 14th October 2020.
Voting for twenty (20) top Housemates out of the fifty (50) contestants that were shortlisted after a competitive audition process that took place at the AYV Media Empire at Wesley Street in Freetown is ongoing. Currently the contestants are busy lobbying through various social media platforms to woo members of the public to cast their votes for them in order for the contestants to emerge successful to enter the House on the 14th October 2020.
Members of the public are at liberty to vote for contestants of their choice. The voting process is simple: Vote for your favourite contestant by sending his or her respective number via SMS to 5500 or dial *5500#. For Diaspora Voting supporters of the respective contestants can call +232 99 00 5500.
For now all the fifty two (52) top applicants or contestants that made it during the audition have unique numbers. It is their unique or respective numbers that should be sent via text message (SMS) to 5500 or by dialling *5500#.
The Housemates Season 1 was a bomb splash, full of fun, suspension and emotions encompassing love and relationships; hullabaloo, brouhaha and ‘kabrakabra’; thus seeing Kenchine Palmer emerging winner at a very colourful August gathering held at the prestigious Radisson Blue Hotel in the West of Freetown.
However, this year’s Housemates show attracted Sierra Leoneans residing in the diaspora such as from Dubai, UK and the United States of America. In a one minute video broadcast at the AYV TV; all 52 shortlisted applicants were seen cajoling their audience and fans to vote for them so that they will be amongst the final 20 that will make it into the House and ultimately bag the Star Prize of two hundred and fifty million Leones plus a round trip to Dubai.
Once the show commences on the 14th October 2020, it will be streamed live online at Africa Young Voices Media Empire Facebook page, AYV Entertainment TV, Africell Sierra Leone Facebook Page and on website at www.ayvnews.com.Replay of Housemates Salone Season 2 Audition is now being aired on AYV Television Channel 33.
But apart from bagging the Star Prize of two hundred and fifty million Leones (Le250M), all other participants will be entitled to their daily allowance of Le100, 000 each day as long as they remain in the House which will be accumulatively given to them whenever they are evicted.
Interestingly, during the show, based on the percentage of votes scored by a particular Housemate, will determine whether he or she will be evicted from the House; evictions will continue until the ultimate winner emerges.
Besides providing entertainment for viewers, the organizers of this Reality TV Show are keen on promoting Youth Empowerment.If some of the Housemates appear sexy by the kind of dresses they wear, then that must not come as any big surprise simply because they are expected to display some amount of ‘decent’ nudity.
Again, if sometimes they talk harshly then it is because they are to intermittently use strong language and act funnily as the expectation is for them to humorous. Manifestation of these traits is what will really make the Reality TV Show very interesting to watch, providing some form of comic relief for viewers and serving as a therapy to reduce stress.
Organisers of the event, Africa Young Voices (AYV) and Africell – Sierra Leone are very enthusiastic to enhance youth empowerment in the country and Housemates Salone 2 is one such platform that will provide that for the young competitors.
The Housemates also stand to benefit from motivational lectures, added to the fact that they will also be availed the opportunity to socialize, learn how to play different games, how to speak fluently etc.
With all these it will definitely transform the Housemates from what their characters were before they entered the House. But financially empowering these Housemates is one of the most important channels of making them relevant in society. As stated earlier, the winner will bag Le250, 000,000 and he or she is expected to champion a key project that could positively impact the lives of young people in this country.
It is an open secret that since its inception the Africa Young Voices (AYV) has been providing opportunities for young people to have their voices heard, to learn new skills and meaningfully contribute to overall national development. This youth empowerment drive is one of the cardinal objectives of this renowned media empire and it has been successfully rolling it out.
On the part of Africell – the major telecommunications service provider in Sierra Leone, they have been supporting various entertainment activities and even young artists in the country with the aim of catching them young and as well contribute to enabling young people realise their full potentials.
As this is going to be an interesting and widely watched Reality TV Show on AYV TV Channel 34, Housemates Salone will also provide a marketing platform for many corporate and business institutions such as banks, business houses, entertainment entities etc, who will effectively make use of the channel to advertise their products and services.
The competition is going to be keen, especially after Sierra Leoneans have enjoyed a successful Season1 and saw the handing over of the Star Prize to the winner.
