Phew....I almost messed up! I interviewed Kabelo soon after BBA2 started and as usual I recorded the conversation but later I tried to retrieve it but it was nowhere to be found and I was convinced that I had deleted it by mistake.
I have been avoiding him since then (
now he knows why) coz I was like
"OMG, he's gonna think he wasted all those hours he spent with me over lunch and at the 5FM studios, thinking bengimfuna vele coz I can't produce the interview."....well, guess what, a week before BBA 2 ends, the recording suddenly appears while I"m busy fiddling with the recorder...
(ooh bathong, I hope you buy this story, it took me a while to invent.....)
Back to KB...
I interviewed Kabelo Ngakane "cosily" one fine Saturday afternoon and finally sitting down with him at a restaurant of his choice in Melville, I let out a sigh of relief that it actually happened!
Out of EVERYBODY that I've interviewed so far, his was the most difficult interview to secure and that made me want it even more coz I was like, "
Kanjani? How can he be too busy for Blogiwood?"
And really, there was no way I wasn't gonna interview Kabelo Ngakane. I mean, KB? The funny and hilarious Channel O VJ who is now the Big Brother Africa host??? No flipping way!
Besides, if you've met him you'll know that there is no better FLIRT in this universe and there's just something about flirts that I find umm...well, cute! Or maybe it's just a Kabelo thing.....
Okay, really now, if you are in Africa and you don't know who KB is, then in plain Xhosa,
vuka emaqandeni...ummm..sorry, no time for translations.
Besides, there is that little nifty thing called "
GOOGLE"...umm remember that little website gals go to after meeting a guy? Yeah, that thing where you go type his name, click search and see what results come out so you can check whether or not he's worth your valuable time? Yeah, that thing! Google KB's background there...I'm in 2007 now! hahahah
KB ON BIG BROTHER ...remember guys, it was still early days..
Brown Shuga: Big Brother Africa - How did that happen?
KB: My bosses at Channel O told me to go for auditions coz there were auditions around the continent so I went there about 3 weeks before leaving for Jamaica, well, they took a chance, my audition was good, that’s how it happened.
BS: When did you find out, when you came back? KB: No, I was still there... I had just come back to my room, when I got the call to say I got the job....I couldn't even scream coz I was so tired, I just said yeah. It took sometime to sink in though.
BS: It’s a huge thing! KB: In terms of presenting on the continent yeah, and the millions of viewers who watch the show, damn, that's good numbers.
For people to see your face and know that you exist and for you to be associated with the brand. In that respect, yep and meeting the head of Endemol in Africa and him saying to me “
KB, this is a very nice addition to your cap.” So cool.
BS: Why do you think they settled on you?
KB: Because of my energy, and familiarity around the continent is not a bad thing. I believe I’ve been made to feel at home in every one of the 22 countries that I’ve been to on the continent.
The only country I haven’t been to is Malawi and even then interaction with them has been high enough for me to know that they like me there. And that’s a plus man.
BS: The fact that the people of Africa like you?
KB: Yes man. And that they are familiar with me. It makes it comfortable to hang out and to do my thing. They never told me why they chose me, I'm assuming and actually a bit of me didn’t think I’d get it…
BS: Why, did you look at the profile of previous host? LB: No, I didn’t even think about the previous host. I mean I’ve auditioned for BB, I’ve auditioned for presenting Idols before so I thought maybe I’m not the kinda guy they’re looking for.
BS: I’ve come across people on the net that are like “Why KB??”
KB: Oh , I also read that on that wordpress big brother blog and I saw that even before I started presenting, I must say it wasn’t the best criticism to be confronted with before you even start working
BS: Oh dear you read it before?
KB: Yeah and psychologically that messes with you. I think the opening show was quite cool…
BS: Oh yeah, I was laughing the whole time!!!!
KB: Even with that nervousness and that at the back of my mind, I still managed to pull it off and I went to read again the other day and now they were saying they’re warming up to me…so it's life.
I spoke to my big sister Zandile Nzalo and she was like
“Yo man it’s all about getting positive energy, you don’t need to be reading that stuff, that doesn’t help you. It’s not opinion based on your skill....” BS: It’s definitely about personal preference coz they started criticizing even before they watched.
KB: Exactly so I was like “
cool, let’s move on, it happens” BS: Do you think it’s unfair for people to compare you with the previous host?
KB: It’s unavoidable. Even the housemates are being compared to the ones before?
BS: What do you think of the housemates?
KB: The sms’s are saying a lot. There's a lot of conflict, I mean people like conflict, people like drama, we read the tabloids because there’s drama and they sell because people like that. You don’t like it when you’re in it or you’re the one being criticized, so you can imagine if the housemates got hold of the sms’s that are being put on the show…geezz!
BS: Did you have favourites? (remember, this was early on guys...)
KB: Nope.
BS: Who do you think is gonna win? Due to what you’ve observed so far..
KB: Most of the time it’s based on strong characters that win.
BS: Well, who are the strong characters?
KB: It’s also proven to the contrary coz the strong characters are not always the ones who make it through. Sometimes it’s been those that have been nice to everybody.
BS: Like Tatiana?
KB: And Maureen…other people think Bertha is a snake, others think Bertha is the queen, the dynamics are crazy, you can’t pick a winner.
BS: Damn, you are so politically correct
KB: Come now, I'm not going there with you..
Punchununu ma Justo!
BS: What did you think of Justice?
KB: I think he’s a weakling. From an observer point of view…that issue that he made about the “ass”!!
Damn, if it hurts you discuss it and move on but he took it over a long period of time.
It got me thinking that he’s a weak guy, a man doesn’t deal with sh*t like that.
Men, especially African men don’t know how to deal with the new African woman. Who’s assertive, who says what she wants, who’s not afraid to tell you “I’ll crack your skull” and is successful. How they’ve dealt with it was to use force coz it was like “ I can’t deal with you through reasoning" so therefore when they can't deal with it by using force, some men tend to take the sulking route.
It's like "Sh*t, there hasn’t been a dictionary now of the “African way to deal with the African woman. Therefore I can’t hit her, swearing doesn’t do anything to anybody” so it’s an issue.
This is why we’re having a problem in Africa. That was a good example of how do I deal with this as an African man now.
Up to some extent, Justice knew what he was doing man, coz it just felt like he was milking it for what it was worth and he’d get sympathy.
BS: Well, he did get us to talk about him and to notice him. So you thought it was better that he left when he did?
KB: I don’t think it’s better, I just think people will prefer it. Come on, who do you think you’re talking to man?
BS: (Laughs) What do you mean? I’m just asking questions…
KB: You’re fishing for me to say things ha haha
BS: Well, you can’t say I didn’t try. Would you date somebody like Meryl?
KB: (Pause) I had to think about that huh!…so I guess it’s a maybe more than a yes or no, I don’t know if that works for you.
One thing though, the little that I’ve seen of her character is, because of how she dealt with Justice, I think she’s very spontaneous and she sometimes doesn’t think before she does things and I also don’t like dealing with conflict, I’d rather we just got along and because I know I’m gonna speak to you with respect, I’m thinking that you know it too and she doesn’t so because of that, I wouldn’t date that kinda gal. She’s got a nice booty though…
BS: Mncim...someone told me that you’ve just recently become single?
KB: How long is recently?Yeah I’m single.
BS: How long
KB: Almost a year…
BS: Not true! I saw you at some function with a gal and that was like 2-3 months ago
KB: I’m sure you got some photographers who will show you different pictures taken over the past few months with me and different friends.
BS: Is that what they’re called ha ha ha. With all your travels in the continent, have you dated outside of SA?
KB: …I’ve almost always dated outside of SA
BS: So you would marry outside too?
KB: If it made sense yeah.
BS: So it might be an Ofuneka…. (ok, this was before I started liking the gal)
KB: Ofuneka might have a nice bum
BS: It’s very flat….
KB: Yeah there you go, I’ve seen better in Nigeria believe that…
BS: Yeah, I must say when I first saw her I thought Naija’s got more gorgeous women
KB: Africa’s got gorgeous women period! So I think a bit of shallowness from me, yeah I like them pretty too.
BS: What sort of woman appeals to you?
KB: A sense of humour, a sense of reason, I think I enjoy a people’s person coz I am too. It would be impossible to hang out with me if you don’t like people.
BS: And the most romantic thing you’ve done for a gal?
KB: You don’t expect me to talk about that *bleep!*??
BS: Yeah, you are gonna tell me and my little recorder over here…do you think you’re romantic?
KB: Hell yeah, I’m very romantic?
BS: Oh okay tell me then…
KB: ....
Borrowed from his 5FM blog! Thanks KB
CATCH THAT IN PART 2 (sorry, it depresses me.....a bit)BS: heheheheh okay, let's move on.....so I hear you play soccer for Supersport in the media league, what do you think of SA Soccer at the moment?
KB: I think there are some more growing pains, I suppose some people would have said growing pains should have happened a long time ago and not now but it’s unique to us and therefore you take it and run with it.
BS: Your take on 2010?
KB: I’m looking forward to it, African people that I’ve met are like
“hey we’re coming to your country!"
BS: Ba tlo driver ko kae? Already there are problems...
KB: We’ll come up with ways to bring the games to the people. It would be sad for them to come up to SA and watch it on some TV Screens somewhere..it is what it is man, we’ll find a way. Traffic is a problem!
BS: What will you be doing in 2010?
KB: I’ll be entertaining the masses. One way or the other I’ll be presenting something.
I’ve got my entertainment company KrazyBoy entertainment, I produce conceptualize etc. There are 2 documentaries that we've done for UNICEF on Channel O. One is SPEAK AFRICA, and we did one when they held the Bob Marley 60th birthday celebrations in Ethiopia. We haven’t done much but the few projects that we’ve done have been huge.
BS: Great man, umm...by the way did you find parking for your Jeep outside?
KB: My what? You are too smart for your own good, you know that!! I’m driving my Golf today.
BS: C'mon, don’t act so surprised, you were the one telling the whole of SA that you are driving a Jeep.
KB: When?
BS: On Metro FM!
KB: Well, it’s all Glen Lewis' doing...
BS: And then I read an old interview that you did and you said something about it being your dream ride ...
KB: Yeah, I’ve been looking for that stuff since forever man. I've always loved the brand nje….
BS: What's happening with Urban Massive
KB: Well, we’ve put it on hold for this year but it will be back next year. It’s quite an interesting show.
BS: So what are you doing on Channel O now? (what a stupid question)KB: For now I’m only doing Oboma but One Drop is also coming up soon..
Like I said, this is just Part 1?
Part 2 promises to be juicier coz KB talks about why he left Metro FM
(sfun'ukwazi), how he got to do The Assylum on 5FM and why he's still at Channel O.
Keep it locked!!