24 NEW VISION, Friday August 5, 2011 TELEVISION - Amplified What you didn’t see on TV

BY NIGEL NASSAR police stopped them from chanting Luclay’s voting’ engineered by Wendall’s family IN , SOUTH name. It was just as well the situation did back home that drove the numbers for not escalate. the Zimbabwean. jumble of ululation and booing! That But Africa had decided. Karen, who was Our Sharon Salmon Nalukenge, Ais what best describes the mood last jobless before Big Brother, had turned who made fifth, placing one of Sunday evening at Sasani Studios in millionaire in just three months, with six ’s best performances in Johannesburg, ; when ’s country votes — five from the participant the reality show’s six seasons, got Karen Igho and ’s Wendall Parsons 14 countries, one from the other countries only the Ugandan vote. and were announced winners of sh520m each — with no representatives on the show. She , which many thought the grand prize of this year’s televised M-NET had , , Tanzania, Nigeria , would vote Sharon due to her East reality show, Big Brother Africa Amplified. and the rest of Africa. African Community attachment, The studio was packed to the rafters with The stories of how she and her mother showed no love Big Brother fans as well as friends and family have for years hustled to earn a living will Her father, Joe Salmon, a travel members of the 26 contestants this year be no more. No wonder her mother, who agent and mother, Bank of featured (the 19 previous evictees attended). also attended the finale, was in tears at the Uganda’s Rebecca Sebuyira; were Immediately Karen and Wendall were life-changing announcement. there to console our girl who, by announced, shrill ululation and booing tore At a press conference shortly after the making it to the finale, bagged through the air. Ululation because they finale, Karen mentioned how she lost her sh26m, just like all the other six celebrated 27-year-old Karen, whom they father to HIV/AIDS, and promised to use her finalists. ’s Lomwe emerged thought was the worthy winner owing to prize money to fix the lack that her father’s 4th, ’s Hanni sixth and Nigeria ’s Vina the fully-fledged entertainment her hyper departure left behind. seventh. personality gave Africa. As for Wendall… well, he was already a Karen’s win marks the third time the jackpot is The booing disregarded Wendall’s win, for he well-to-do kid before Big Brother, for at 24 going to Nigeria after their Kevin Chuwang won was the most boring of the seven finalists, with years, he is a pilot. In fact, he did not in the Big Brother Revolution (Season Four) and Uti nothing worth writing home about. In fact, least look shocked by the win. Nwachukwu won Big Brother All Stars (Season while still on the show, many regarded Wendall At the press conference, he wore the air of Five). Wendall’s win is the first for Zimbabwe. as part of the furniture, never in the least ‘been there done that’ — not that journalists The two winners, Karen and Wendall imagining him a likely winner. were really interested in him. Many snubbed At the after party The mainly South African crowd did not him, concentrating on the feisty Karen. Away from the winners, the after-party was the Elizabeth, who also started their romance Meanwhile, our Ernest Wasake and pretend about its feelings. After chanting “no During a session to take pictures with the other thing to write home about. from Revolution, are due next month. Tanzania’s Bhoke took the advantage of way, no way, no way” in protest of Wendall’s winners, some only took with Karen. Held at The Venue in Johannesburg, it brought Remember Mwisho, the Tanzanian who the reunion at the finale to pick up with win, they launched into “Luclay, Luclay, Once in a while, a lone question went to together a number of the past contestants who got engaged to ’s Meryl in Big their romance where they had left off Luclay…”, suggesting they had their own Wendall — and it was to ask him how it rubbed shoulders with the present, as well as Brother All Stars? They too are expecting. when they got evicted. The beauty told winner in Luclay, the South African contestant felt sitting next to a winner with six votes artistes like Fally Ipupa, Mo Cheddah and Wizkid Also, after witnessing Luclay’s mum me she is coming to Uganda for Ernest’s who came third having got two country votes against his paltry four — Zimbabwe , who performed at the party and the finale. throw a tantrum at a security officer birthday on August 15. Watch this space. — South Africa and . Namibia , Kenya and . And oh, there are some Big Brother babies who had denied her access to her son Not even the sudden entrance by anti-riot While some contend that the on the way. My lense caught a very pregnant (she smokes as well), I now know better establishment rigged in his favour, general Big Brother Revolution couple Queen (South than to complain about Luclay’s erratic consensus held that it was the power of Africa) and Jen (Mozambique). They said they behaviour. Interestingly though, his social networking and massive ‘deployed are six months, and that Nigeria’s Kevin and girlfriend is so calm.

PICTURES BY NIGEL NASSER

Sharon and felicia at the after party Expecting: Jen and Queen Ernest and Bhoke Luclay’s mother, Luclay and his girl friend KAREN Karen and Wendall Speak out UESTION Karen, are you still yourself after winning Qthat jackpot from the blues? poor background without much, I will want WENDALL NSWER Yes, it so much for me. You see, I don’t have NSWER I’m still shocked and surprised. I just can’t to use it to make sure I never return where I Aanything back home. I returned to Zimbabwe in Abelieve Africa decided to award me that much. came from. In my childhood my whole family UESTION Wendall, are you still yourself after getting December, from my flying studies in Australia and I had not UESTION With how fiery you were, I would think was just my grandmother, in the village with Q$200,000 richer from the blues? even found a job when Big Brother came around. So the Qyou knew that you were a likely winner. no electricity, no water and nothing. NSWER I think I am still myself. I am only humbled by the money is gonna help me start my own life as a man. NSWER I didn’t think I was a strong character UESTION So is the money going to wash Awhole experience. UESTION Are you going to buy a small aircraft? Abecause everyone looked so strong and actually Qaway your previous tears? UESTION How far can that money change someone’s Q nswer I am looking to starting a small real estate there were people who I found more entertaining and NSWER Man, money can’t buy happiness. Qlife? It is definitely a big boost. First, it is still $200,000. Abusiness. stronger characters than me. ARight now what I am especially happy for NSWER It is still $200, 0000 because we use USD in UESTION Some people thought you were too passive UESTION Ok, tell us how that money is going to is that Africa likes me. AZimbabwe. That is a lot of money; it can really turn Qand boring to win? Qchange your life. UESTION Last words for Africa? around your life, raise your status and lifestyle, because most NSWER Ha ha ha. I might have been passive only at the NSWER It is about 30 million Naira. That is a lot of Q NSWER I just can’t stop saying thanks people in Zimbabwe are so poor. Astart and that is because I am a shy person. But I think as Amoney for someone in Nigeria, and it can change Ato the whole of Africa. I love them all. UESTION How is this money going to turn around your time went on, I got out of the shell and I guess not everyone someone’s life completely. For me who comes from a Qlife? Is it so much for you? found me boring. That is why I got a number of votes.