By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr Fatima Maada Bio, has described Housemates Salone Season Four as a clean and successful competition, stressing that none of the contestants should be regarded as losers.Speaking at the grand finale of the popular reality television show, Dr Bio said every housemate who made it into the competition was already a winner, considering the large number of people who auditioned nationwide.
“Housemates Salone Season Four is a clean game and nobody is a loser,” the First Lady said. “The fact that you made it into the house out of a country population of eight million people, you should consider yourself a true winner.”
Her remarks were met with applause from the audience, contestants, and organizers, as she encouraged Sierra Leoneans to celebrate the housemates for projecting positive values throughout the season. According to her, the contestants demonstrated discipline, resilience, and unity, qualities she said are needed to build a stronger society.
Dr Bio praised the housemates for what she described as cleaning the game, noting that their conduct helped reshape public perception of reality television in the country. She said the season stood out for promoting healthy competition, creativity, and mutual respect among contestants.
The First Lady also used the occasion to call on sponsors and partners to increase their support for the show. She urged them to double their contributions in order to enable organizers to expand rewards and opportunities for future contestants.
“I am encouraging the sponsors and partners to double their support so that the organisers, AYV and Africell, will double their prizes for Season Five,” she said. She added that increased investment in entertainment would help empower young people and strengthen Sierra Leone’s creative industry.
She commended Africa Young Voices Media Empire and its partners for sustaining the show and providing a platform that continues to discover and promote talent. Dr Bio noted that initiatives such as Housemates Salone play a vital role in engaging young people positively and showcasing Sierra Leonean talent to a wider audience.
The First Lady encouraged viewers to remain connected to AYV Media for reliable news, updates, and entertainment, acknowledging the media institution’s role in promoting local content and national conversations.
Beyond entertainment, Dr Bio also reflected on issues of transparency and good governance. In a separate remark, she referenced her recent attendance at a National Executive Council meeting, where she said she witnessed a significant step toward openness within her political party.
“Today at the NEC meeting, for the first time I had the opportunity to see my party read financial reports for all to hear,” she stated. She described the development as encouraging and praised the party leadership for embracing transparency.
Dr Bio specifically commended Chairman Songa for what she called a transparent start to his administration. “Thank you Chairman Songa for a transparent start of your administration. Well done sir,” she said.
Her comments linked accountability in politics with transparency in other sectors, including entertainment and media, emphasizing that openness builds trust and national confidence.
As Housemates Salone Season Four comes to a close, the First Lady’s remarks have added further weight to the view that the show has evolved beyond entertainment into a platform for positive social messaging. With calls for increased sponsorship and higher rewards in the next season, expectations are already building for Season Five.
For many viewers and participants, the message from the First Lady was clear: participation itself is a victory, and positive representation of Sierra Leone remains the ultimate prize.
