To Nigerian men, Love Island is more than a drama villa.

Nigerian men being obsessed with a summer dating show during the rainy season may not be too far-fetched. Even if a person lives under a rock, the reality television series Love Island will find them, especially this season, which has been plagued by parasocial stanning of contestants. The dating show has everybody glued to their phones and forming communities. While this series may bear some similarity to Big Brother Naija, it is very different.  

Similar to Big Brother Naija, contestants on Love Island unplug from the real world, living together in a secluded, luxurious environment under 24-hour surveillance, taking on different challenges until the end of the show. However, this popular reality show sets itself apart because, unlike Big Brother, which thrives on competition, this is all about love, at least in theory. Love Island contestants, known as “Islanders”, try to find their dating match. Each season of the dating show follows a group of singles over six weeks as they compete to form romantic connections and avoid being eliminated from the island. Throughout the show, the entry of new “bombshells” (contestants who enter subsequently as the show progresses) creates tension as the producers continue to insert psychological games and plot twists. On Big Brother, viewers get to see the 24-hour lives of contestants, but on Love Island, they get a one-hour produced show that almost falsifies the reality it portrays. 

The television show originated in the UK in 2015 and has since spawned numerous international versions, including  Love Island USA, which is now pulling awe-inspiring numbers, ranking Peacock as the top streaming reality series. It began its season 7 spin-off on June 3, 2025, and will conclude on July 13, 2025. This means that any avid watcher will soon return to basic programming and lose the spark that had made their life worthwhile, perhaps.  

It is popularly known that the primary demographic for reality television programs is women aged 18 to 34. Statistics show that women who enjoy these programs are more likely to consume them than men, by 3% in the case of dating programs and by 8% in terms of docuseries viewership. This is why we are channelling our activism into highlighting male representation in female-dominated spaces.

As the contestants find their perfect match inside the villa, Nigerian men are dissecting why they are obsessed with this cupid reality television series. 

HERE’S WHAT NIGERIAN MEN SAID:

The honesty and transparency are great TV – Joshua, 23

I got a hold of the show because a talking stage made me start watching, reality TV is her thing, and she has even made me watch Drag Race with her. When she introduced me to Love Island, it just stuck. My favourite thing about the show is observing all the love dynamics and psychology behind these relationships. I think the honesty and transparency are great on television. Ace is my favourite Islander because he’s hilarious and very transparent. He is the only one who peeped Jeremiah’s love bombing. I am currently rooting for Ace and Chelley to win this season. My favourites used to be Nic and Cierra, but that Nic guy is…weird. It felt off, the whole thing he was trying to do before with Andreina and then after that, the entire speech with Olandria. I think both of them should’ve just said no; those kisses after the challenge with Olandria were too much. He’s a whore, and I generally don’t like ridiculously promiscuous people, even if they’re my guys. 

I love the concept of exploring connections- Fego, 23

My girlfriend introduced me to Love Island, and it was a banger from the jump. Now, I always discuss the show with my guys. My favourite thing about the show is exploring connections. It genuinely grabbed my attention. They just explore multiple people to see the possibility of a relationship, at the same time. In real life, nobody talks like that, so it made me laugh and think of the show as a “hoeing” Island. I don’t even think anybody in the villa has an actual chance at love in the real world, including Ace and Chelley. 

My favourite Islander is Nic because we share some similarities. Nic and Cierra were also my favourite couple, until they took her off the show for using racial slurs, and now I don’t care about the show. 

My favourite thing is the messiness- George, 23

I am pop culture influenced, I kept seeing recap videos and mini clips on TikTok, so I indulged.

I’ve watched several series for a while now. My favourite thing about the show is the messiness, the drama, and just trying to predict what people will do, honestly. My favourite Islander is Ace. Nic comes in a very close second for the guys. Then, for the girls, I really like Amaya Papaya. Currently, my favourite ship is Ace and Chelly, then Nic and Cierra, a very close second. 

I would love to be on Love Island Nigeria- Ayomide, 22

I don’t believe there is a particular reason I started watching. I’ve been watching for 5 seasons now. I enjoy the drama, and I would also love to be on Love Island Nigeria. My favourite ship is Chellace (Ace and Chelley), and my favourite Islader spawns between Nic and Ace. I like Ace because he knows how to set boundaries and clearly knows what he is looking for. 

I love the recoupling because there is a tension that comes with it – Ifeoluwa, 22

I started watching this TV series because I was intrigued by the discourse a friend was having about the show on Twitter. I just yearned to join in on the conversation and have my own talking points.

My favourite thing about the show is the challenges; there is always drama after the challenges. My favourite challenge this season (Season 7, USA) was the Stand on Business challenge because they actually stood on business. I also love the recoupling because it creates tension.

Ace is my best man in the villa. I like how he composes and carries himself, and right now I’m shipping Ace and Chelley. Immediately the season started, it felt like they had that instant connection and right up until this moment, the way they built up on that connection was so good to see. From the little planned dates and early morning breakfasts, even when they were not on good terms, they navigated it well. It was just lovely. I feel like they bring out the best in each other. 

The guy doing voice over makes it more fun – Adeyemi, 23

I started watching Love Island because my friends kept bringing it up in conversations, so I had to see what all the fuss was about.  My favourite thing about the show has to be the guy doing the voice-over; he makes it so fun. 

My favourite Islander is Taylor; he has a really good style and hair. I would have been rooting for Nic and Cierra, but as you know, Cierra is no longer on the show. I see Nic as a player, but I felt like Cierra had a chokehold on him, and he didn’t want to lose her, regardless of how much he wanted to be a bad boy. That being said, you know I don’t really care for the Nicolandria (Nic and Olandria’s ship name). I see it as an agenda pushed by the public, and the producers are just trying to make it work. Currently, I’m on that Ace and Chelley boat.

Love Island has become a captivating phenomenon that is increasingly popular among Nigerian men, surpassing its original role as a simple dating show. It has sparked passionate discussions about relationships and personal dynamics. Lately, it serves as a mirror, prompting conversations about vulnerability and emotional openness in a culture where such discussions are often overlooked.