The highly anticipated Housemates Salone Season 4 officially kicked off on Friday, July 18, 2025, with a major announcement that the winner will walk away with SLE 1 million (or one billion in old Leones) and a fully paid trip to Dubai—the biggest star prize in the history of the show.
Launching the event at Chapter One Night Club & Restaurant in Freetown, First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio called for a cultural shift in Sierra Leone’s reality TV landscape, urging for more decency, dignity, and purpose-driven content. “Let us clean the game on reality TV shows in this country,” she said. “Today, we are not just launching a clean and decent Housemates Salone show—we are making a commitment to support and promote it to the end.”
As the Distinguished Guest of Honour, she commended AYV Media Empire CEO Ambassador Anthony Navo Jr., and Africell CEO Mr. Shadi Gerjawi for their immense support in promoting youth development and national branding through entertainment.
“If ‘Hands Off Our Girls’ succeeded, it was because of your unwavering support,” she added, praising their role in national campaigns and youth empowerment.
She also encouraged this year’s housemates to use the platform to exhibit their creativity, discipline, and leadership, adding that such is a bold move to rival Big Brother Naija, placing Sierra Leone on the global entertainment map.
The event brought together dignitaries and stakeholders including Minister of Information and Communications Chernor Bah, officials from the Tourism and Youth Ministries, former housemates, diplomats, and media executives.
Representing the Minister of Tourism, Nabeela Farida Tunis emphasized that Housemates Salone serves as a tool to rebrand Sierra Leone, attract tourism, and redefine the nation’s cultural identity.
“This is one of our flagship entertainment events and a key vehicle for international exposure,” she noted.
Delivering the event’s biggest news, Africell CEO Shadi Gerjawi confirmed that this season’s winner will receive SLE 1 million and a fully sponsored trip to Dubai, with all health precautions for MPox strictly enforced during the live-streamed show.
AYV CEO Ambassador Anthony Navo Jr. underscored the season’s theme—“Clean Game”—as a commitment to removing indecency, vulgarity, and inappropriate conduct from the show.
“The game has been contaminated. We must clean it. No more ‘mammy cuss,’ no more nudity, no more bad behaviour,” he declared.
Both Navo and Gerjawi called on Sierra Leoneans to support a more empowering and values-based entertainment model that uplifts youth and reflects national pride.
Minister Chernor Bah echoed those sentiments, stating that Housemates Salone aligns with President Bio’s vision to unlock local talent and position Sierra Leone as a hub for creative excellence.
“The President and First Lady believe in the power of entertainment as a force for development,” he said.
As Season 4 kicks off, Housemates Salone promises not only life-changing prizes, but also a platform to inspire national conversations on values, youth potential, and cultural pride.
