Every BBNaija Show Ya Sef housemate — real names, ages, states, occupations & first impressions. Plus DStv/GOtv channels, form price & how to vote. Updated live.
Season 11 don land, and Naija House Gist get all the correct gist — no cap, no recycled 2024 pairing gist, no wrong channel numbers. Below na the complete, verified directory of every housemate in Biggie’s “upside-down” house this year, plus everything you’ve been typing into Google about how to watch, how much the form costs, and where the house is hiding.
Bookmark this page. We’re updating it every eviction week.
Quick Facts Box: Everything About Show Ya Sef At a Glance
- Premiere date: Sunday, July 26, 2026, 7:00 PM WAT
- Theme: “Show Ya Sef”
- Host: Ebuka Obi-Uchendu (his 10th consecutive season)
- Housemates: 24
- Grand prize: ₦160 million — the biggest in the show’s history
- House location: A newly redesigned, custom-built set beside the live TV studio in Lagos, featuring an “upside-down” concept with flipped patterns and bold luxury interiors
- First Head of House: Chimsom Chuka
- Deputy Head of House: Abi
Where To Watch BBNaija Season 11: Channels, Streaming & Packages
This is the single most-searched question in your gist community right now, so let’s kill the confusion for good.
DStv: Channel 198, 24/7.
GOtv: The dedicated launch broadcast aired on Channel 29, and the ongoing 24/7 live feed now runs on Channel 49. If you tune to 29 after launch week and get nothing, that’s why — head straight to 49.
Sunday Eviction Show: Africa Magic Showcase (DStv Channel 151), with simulcasts on Africa Magic Urban and Africa Magic Family.
Streaming: DStv Stream and the MyDStv/MyGOtv apps carry the same live feed for mobile viewing. Showmax also carries the show for international audiences outside Africa for the first time.
Does my package show the 24/7 feed?
- ✅ DStv: Yanga (Access) and above generally get the BBNaija channel. Padi typically does not.
- ✅ GOtv: Jolli, Max, and Supa get the 24/7 channel. Jinja does not.
If you’re on a lower package, you can still catch daily highlights and the Sunday eviction show on the Africa Magic channels included in most bundles.
Meet the 24 Housemates: Real Names, Ages, States & First Impressions
We’ve organized these exactly as MultiChoice unveiled them, with each housemate’s real government name next to their house name — because “who be the real person behind [house name]” is one of the top things Nigerians search for every single season.
Tram
Real name: Joshua Alekewumu | Age: 24 | State: Lagos | Occupation: Author, entrepreneur and YouTuber
Tram walked in laser-focused, telling housemates romance and distractions aren’t on his agenda this season. He’s engaged outside the house and says he’s here purely to win, drawing on his background in boxing, writing, and digital content creation.
Temi Nkem
Real name: Temitope Chigbue | Age: 21 | State: Lagos | Occupation: Student
Temi Nkem is a UK-trained student who wasted no time making headlines, famously questioning a fellow housemate’s English during an early house exchange. Bold and vibrant, she’s positioning herself as one of the season’s loudest personalities.
Martins
Real name: Martins Iyeh | Age: 28 | State: Kogi | Occupation: Creative director and model
A charismatic visual storyteller who’s traded the runway for reality TV, Martins claims he can read minds and says he’s here mainly to have fun. He’s admitted his emotions might show more than he’d like on camera.
Abi — Deputy Head of House
Real name: Abisola Ayoola | Age: 25 | State: Osun | Occupation: Model and chef
Abi finished second in the opening HoH task and became Deputy Head of House alongside Chimsom Chuka. She made early headlines revealing she met her husband on TikTok, and she’s bringing “Italian experience” energy — she speaks the language almost perfectly.
Chimsom Chuka — The First Head of House
Real name: Chimsom Chuka-Okoli | Age: 26 | State: Anambra | Occupation: Pharmacist and actor
Chimsom clocked the fastest time in the season’s first HoH task, winning immunity from Week 1 eviction. But a new twist meant he didn’t get the HoH lounge himself — he had to pick a name from a lucky dip, and it landed on Tram instead.
Keivo
Real name: Victor Ikpe | Age: 27 | State: Benue | Occupation: Web developer
Logical and self-described as a “jack of all trades,” Keivo balances his tech career with painting and drawing. He says he’s open to love but isn’t thinking about marriage yet.
Mercedes
Real name: Ijeoma Emi | Age: 28 | State: Delta | Occupation: Self-employed entrepreneur
Mercedes declared she’s prepared to “sacrifice everything for the game.” Creative and emotionally expressive, she’s leaning into fashion, performance, and content creation as her strengths in the house.
Kamsy
Real name: Kamsy Uzoma | Age: 24 | State: Imo | Occupation: Entrepreneur and event planner
Kamsy admits forgiveness doesn’t come easily to her — a red flag (or a red carpet) for house drama. She’s promising style, humour, and “just enough drama” throughout the season.
Sultex
Real name: Sultan Aregbe-Obanikoro | Age: 24 | State: Lagos | Occupation: Dancer, choreographer and movie director
A seasoned entertainment professional, Sultex has worked as a cast director and movie director before joining the house. He’s using BBNaija as a springboard to widen his creative audience.
Aikou
Real name: Amyr Yousufzai | Age: 25 | State of residence: Abuja | Occupation: Backend developer
Calm, analytical, and thoughtful, Aikou previously explored music before settling into tech. He says the show is about more than entertainment for him — it’s a career and brand-building opportunity.
Flora
Real name: Flora Egbedi | Age: 30 | State: Delta | Occupation: Entrepreneur (beauty, content, and bridal brand)
Flora describes herself as outspoken and brutally honest. She’s bringing storytelling and content-creation experience into the house alongside her entrepreneurial ventures.
Bells
Real name: Isabella Imoh | Age: 22 | State: Akwa Ibom | Occupation: Student
A lifelong BBNaija superfan finally living her dream, Bells is a foodie, self-described neat freak, and rule-follower. A past surgery ended her ballet training, but she’s channeling that same discipline into her game strategy.
Gerard
Real name: Gerard Adebija | Age: 23 | State: Kogi | Occupation: Actor, radio host, presenter and content creator
Gerard calls himself the house’s wild card — an open book who can’t stand manipulators. His broadcasting background means he’s already comfortable holding a camera’s attention.
Oyin
Real name: Oyindamola Oshikoya | Age: 22 | State: Ogun | Occupation: Sales entrepreneur and model
Oyin admits she may come across as rude at first impression but insists there’s a friendlier, funnier side underneath. She’s still in love with a high school sweetheart, she revealed early on.
Sheba
Real name: Faith Gamde | Age: 32 | State: Plateau | Occupation: Broadcaster
One of the season’s fastest-rising search terms, Sheba is a gym enthusiast, proud mother, and professional voice talent known for animal-sound impressions. She says she’s here for good times — and possibly love.
Araga
Real name: Oluwaseyifunmi Sosanya | Age: 29 | State: Ogun | Occupation: Fashion model
Self-proclaimed “Nigeria’s last standing loverboy,” Araga wants to prove there’s more to him than the runway. He’s using the platform to step outside his comfort zone entirely.
Ricky
Real name: Patrick Jumbo | Age: 33 | State: Rivers | Occupation: Writer, filmmaker and content creator
A self-described “bad boy by necessity,” Ricky doesn’t subscribe to traditional love but finds romance exciting. His storytelling background makes him one to watch for confessional-room gold.
Nomy
Real name: Whitney Chukwu | Age: 27 | State: Anambra | Occupation: Fashion entrepreneur
Nomy says hard work speaks louder than empty promises. She’s leaning on strong intuition — she claims an exceptional ability to read people — as her main strategic tool.
Barry
Real name: Muudumbari Pop-Yornwin | Age: 25 | State of residence: Abuja | Occupation: Civil engineer and fashion designer
Ambitious and self-described as “unforgettable,” Barry trained as a civil engineer but built a second career in fashion design. He admits he can be stubborn when hurt or misunderstood.
Neche – The Wildcard to Watch
Real name: Chinaecherem Maduagwu | Age: 25 | State: Anambra | Occupation: Lawyer and entrepreneur
A long-time BBNaija superfan turned contestant, Neche balances a legal career with entrepreneurship. She’s already declared she’ll abandon any strategy that doesn’t favour her — a statement of intent that’s got fans talking.
Yusuf
Real name: Yusuf Muhammad-Awal | Age: 27 | State: Kogi | Occupation: Actor
Yusuf admits he can be selfish but insists his personality is “unbeatable.” He’s positioning himself as one of the season’s most self-assured players.
Goddessa
Real name: Lovette Okechukwu | Age: 32 | State: Abia | Occupation: Musician
Goddessa promised to “bring sexiness and shake the table” on launch night. Music is her core identity, and she’s using the show to expand her fanbase alongside her performing career.
Bluethopia
Real name: Usaku Bantai | Age: 22 | State: Adamawa | Occupation: Photographer, model and student
Confident and creative, Bluethopia describes herself as unapologetically authentic. Visual storytelling is her passion, and she’s hoping the house opens doors beyond photography and modelling.
Cassi
Real name: Ezenwoke Nwosu | Age: 26 | State: Abia | Occupation: Entrepreneur
Cassi enters the house chasing a fresh start, calling BBNaija a potential life-changer rather than just a competition. His organisational streak and creative side (he’s into drawing, painting, and chiropractic therapy) round out a multi-talented profile.
The Head of House Twist That Shocked Everyone
Chimsom Chuka’s win in Monday’s inaugural HoH challenge came with a catch nobody saw coming. Unlike every past season, the winner doesn’t automatically move into the HoH lounge. Instead, Chimsom had to pick a name from a lucky dip box — and it landed on Tram, who then chose Sheba to share the exclusive apartment with him for the week.
Chimsom still keeps the real prize: immunity from this week’s eviction, plus other leadership privileges. But watching someone else enjoy “his” lounge is already fueling early house tension — exactly the kind of twist Big Brother built this season around.
How Much Is the BBNaija Form? (And How To Apply For Season 12)
Straight answer: the BBNaija application form is completely free. Ignore anyone online quoting ₦80,000–₦100,000 — that’s a scam pattern that resurfaces every season. MultiChoice never charges for auditions.
For Season 11, registration opened online from May 16–20, 2026, with physical auditions held May 22–24 across Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu. Expect a similar window for Season 12 — applicants must be 21+, Nigerian citizens with valid ID, and prepared to submit a short video introduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the BBNaija house located? The Season 11 house was custom-built beside MultiChoice’s live television studio in Lagos, with a completely redesigned “upside-down” concept for this edition.
What channel is BBNaija on DStv? Channel 198, 24 hours a day.
What channel is BBNaija on GOtv? Channel 29 for launch broadcasts; Channel 49 for the ongoing 24/7 feed.
Does DStv Yanga show BBNaija? Yes, Yanga is generally included; Padi typically is not.
Does GOtv Jinja show BBNaija? No — you need Jolli, Max, or Supa.
Who is the current Head of House? Chimsom Chuka, with Abi as Deputy Head of House.
How much is the BBNaija 2026 audition form? Free. No legitimate application requires payment.
Keep This Gist Alive — Here’s How We’re Making This Interactive
To turn casual readers into daily regulars, here’s what we recommend building around this hub over the coming weeks:
- A live “Housemate Power Rankings” widget — updated after every eviction show, so readers check back weekly to see movement.
- A prediction poll (“Who gets evicted first?”) embedded right under the housemate grid — gamifies engagement and gives you first-party data on fan favourites.
- Real-name quiz — “Can you match the real name to the house name?” as a shareable interactive card; this format travels extremely well on WhatsApp groups.
- Weekly recap digest linked at the top of this page, so this article stays the evergreen anchor and every recap links back here for internal SEO compounding.
- Eviction countdown timer for Sunday nights — small widget, big retention driver for appointment viewing.
This page will be updated throughout the season with eviction results, HoH changes, and new twists. Naija House Gist — your most credible gist source for Show Ya Sef.