A few days before Big Brother Africa: The Chase started, members of the media were given an opportunity to be housemates for 24 hours.Television South Africa's @keToody was one of those who had an experience of a lifetime.
Now excuse me for putting this up a bit late but getting the pictures took a while.
Friday May 24th ... the roads led us to the M-NET Magic Centre where the South African media met and we had to sign non-disclosure paperwork on the house, housemates or anything that we may be exposed to with regards to the show. We were only allowed to talk about the experience after the Premiere which was on the Sunday.
Ashmond Martin, the Communications rep for M-NET, arranged a bus which took us to Sasani Studios, there everything electronic was taken away from us, pens, notepads and even our wallets. Then we were ready for the Big Brother House. From M-NET, the South African media we had bonded already making it easy for us to live in the house but everything changed as we were about to step in.
The other African countries media was there and we had to be mixed, we found out that there are 2 houses, Diamond's and Ruby's, and we each had to draw colors either RED or YELLOW from a bag which determined which house we were going into.
At that moment it had started to sink in that this might just be an unpleasant ride, being mixed with people you have never met before, different personalities and no access to the outside world.
I could see many faces started being disappointed because of the possibility of not going into the same house with people they know - was an issue for me as well but knowing that I can easily adapt to any environment made it a bit easy for me - what was left was to do this damn thing and get over and done with it. Oh boy, we all had it wrong.
I moved into the Ruby House and that proved to be the most awesome house with a bunch of crazy and entertaining people. I must say, am glad the pictures we have do not show some of the things that actually happened like the Shower Hour that took place hehehe ...
We were assured though that the Camera's in the bath tub room, toilet and shower would not be activated during our stay but will be for the actual show. Surprisingly, as the shower part took place the camera next to it turned and zooooomed right into the shower.
TVSA's
Toody pictured here with
Zainul (Tanzania) and
JayJ (Sixolisiwe from City Press) played the housemates that Biggie had given us a task to tie the rope around the waist for the night but they did'nt buy it.
Biggie had lots of food in for us as well as booze and a Task on Love meets Hate, where we had to draw and paint art representing love and hate. Unfortunately no pictures of the drawings were taken. We also had a nomination session sometime during the night - just before dinner - as well as having to choose a Head of House.
The ever smiling
Zainul and
Toody doing the fake task.
Nthabeleng (TV Plus),
Zainul (Dewijiblog - Tanzania) and
Tina (Sunday World) pictured below made sure that we were fed for the day, night and also made us a mean breakfast the next morning before we were all evicted.
Head of House.
during one of the games we played during our stay. The way he is looking at her, you'd swear he is saying ' She can get it'.
Molife who was the only person in the BBATheChase House I had met before - we crossed over into 2013 together at Emperors Palce in December with TVSA blogger real name
Nare Kekana . Here we played the game Shiraz..
Oh and we had a braai for the night - in this picture
Tina, Molife, JayJ, Sam (The Times in Malawi) and Munene (Kenya). Munene was the quiet person in the house but also the no 1 drinker ... well, on the drinking part he was probably followed by yours truly.
There was a time when I popped the champagne in the Jacuzzi and Molife told the whole house that I had drank from the bottle just so that they wouldn't want it and we had it all to ourselves - in the end I had to drink it by myself.
Sam (Zambia), Munene (Kenya), Henry (Uganda) and
Zainul (Tanzania)
JayJ (City Press) indulging on the snacks Biggie had made for us.
Oh yeah Biggie I can hear you but am hungry ...
Tina was Head of House - here she was checking out the meat in the freezer.
Oh and we ate a lot. Simba in blue stripes was voted the best housemate and walked away with a Sony Play Station #courtesy of M-NET.
Which reminds me, he is one of the guys who jumped into the Jacuzzi just when we got there, then later complained when 2 gents (who am not going to mention for security purposes LOL) were in the Jacuzzi later at night with all the 4 ladies of the house then also in the shower with just 2 of the ladies as the night progressed.
There is a lot that happened and would take 3 to four articles putting it together, all in all the Big Brother Experience was a bomb, something I'd love to do over and over. Thank you Television South Africa Editor Tashi and the team for allowing me to do this one. For 3 years I had wanted to but would keep on having other things coming up. Thank you MNET and Africa Magic.