Big Brother Africa

There was dance, ululation and screaming yesterday as hundreds of people thronged Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe to welcome Hazel, Malawi’s representative at the just-ended Big Brother Africa III reality show.

At around 2pm trucks, buses and saloon cars were at the airport to welcome Hazel whose plane, an Air Malawi Boeing 737 300, touched down at 3.35pm. Officially welcoming her were the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture and the Deputy Minister of Irrigation and other top government officials.

Flags and placards were flown all over and Police had a hard time controlling the fans. For a moment there was a commotion as police failed to control the excited crowd that broke through the human barricade of Police. Songs of all types, praising her could be heard in the cacophony of confusion that ensued. It took almost 30 minutes for her convoy to reach the airport amphitheatre where she addressed the crowd. She said staying in the house could be likened to an isolated place like a prison and she considered herself winner although she did not bring the money.

The Nation Newspaper - Thursday 27th November 2008


I especially like the bit about the Deputy Minister of Irrigation being in the welcoming party and the ‘cacophony of confusion’! Despite not winning, Hazel might get some dosh – companies in Malawi are being asked to donate the equivalent of what she would have got had she won – sort of defeats the object of the competition doesn’t it but TIA!!