Islanders Magazine

PREZZO INTERVIEW

Prezzo, (real name – Jackson Makini )the34 year old Kenyan musician who came as the first runner up in the just concluded MNET reality show Big brother star game, had a media parley recently with the Nigerian press at an event in Lagos after arriving Nigeria last Sunday. According to him, he came to Nigeria for one reason that is to make up with Goldie one of his fellow housemates whom he fell in love with on the show. He added that reaching the Kenny’s music label artiste has been in futility hence his coming to Nigeria. It would be recalled that the famous female singer, Goldie pronounced her love so much for him when they were both in the house but according to him "at this point I cannot understand why she has refused to get in touch with me"

The seemingly love struck PREZZO confessed his undying love for the female singer stating his willingness to take their relationship to the next level soon. Here’s an excerpt of the interview

What was your career like before you got into the Big Brother Reality reality show?

My career was airborn before the show, but I believe it can get better. The Big Brother Africa show was just another platform God put in front of me and I took advantage of it.

What was the BIG Brother Africa house like?

The Big Brother Africa house was a place where a lot of mind games were played. The players included all the house mates and even Big Brother himself. The Big Brother house is just a carzy placeand you never know what to expect.

How did you get into the show?

I wanted to really broaden my brand and at the same time I wanted to let some of my fans know they have been wrong about me, because I believe most of my fans misinterpreted me. So, I used the show to my advantage.

What was your impression of the audition when you were called up for the show?

I was skeptical about it. I wasn't quick to respond about it, I had to think about it for a while. I am a very private person you know and sometimes I am very quite and so I started thinking been quite wasn't going to be really appropriate in the Big Brother house. But I took it as a challenge and I thank God for taking me through the whole 91 days.

What was the reaction of your family and friends like having been away for 90 days?

To be honest, I will talk about my family more because I hold a very small circle of friends back at home, but you know my mother is always supportive of everything I do. She knew she was going to miss me when i decided to go for the show. I missed her more. She was supportive and promise to keep me in her prayers and I believe thats what actually got me through the 91 days.

The media have been speculating about your kid a lot, are you still in contact her?

Most definately, my child is my heart.

Did you make any friends in the Big Brother house?

Yes I did. I met an angel called Goldie. she has been the most obvious one. Then there was a brother called Rockfot from Zimbambwe, he was a very free person. He is a kind of person whom I will like to keep in touch with outside the house.

Have you gotten in contact with any of your friends you met in the house?

Not really, because ever since I left the house I been up and down doing diffrent things.

What was your happiest moment in the house?

Well I will say my happiest moments were times spent with Goldie. My lowest moment would be when Goldie and I were not happy together and after she got evicted from the house.

Did you make enemies in the house?

I had alot of enemies. A lot of the house mates infact were my enemies. They considered me as their enemies too, hence I was nominated for eviction every week non stop.

How is your affair with Goldie, have you been in contact with her since you came inot the country?

I have been trying to get in touch with her, but all in vain. I feel the interviews i grant will help impress what i feel for her in her mind. So, hopefully if she gets to see this she will be able to find it in her heart to pick up my calls.

Is she aware that you are in Lagos ?

I am very sure that words would have spread about me being in Nigeria to look for Goldie. We have the social media so she would have heard that I am here to look for her.

How did you cope when she left the house?

Honestly I never pictured Goldie leaving up till the very last week, I never imagined that at one time Goldie would leave the house. So, to me it came as a big shock, you know, but I believe God planned everything. I also believe their was a reason too for her leaving the house when she did and as human beings we can not question God.

Before going into the house did you envisage falling in love again or were you just focused on the game?

No. I didn't have any idea that I would go into the house and fall in love again. You know after my last experinece with my ex-wife I told myself I woudn't want to get tangled with that kind of situation again. So, falling in love with Goldie changed my mentality, because I fell for Goldie in the first couple of weeks. Goldie is a very beautiful person both inside and outside so I will still say I didn't go into the house to fall in love but getting in there somebody got into my heart and am here for her.

Do you really intend to take this relationship to the next level?

Yeah, if I wasn't going to I wouldn't be here in the first place. To actually get into a plane, leave your country and come to another country it shows how serious I am. Most definetly, I intend taking her to Kenya so we could do some farming together.

How serious are you about doing a colaboration with her?

Well, I have not contacted her on that yet. There is a way all this things work I have a management team, so they will get in touch with her record label and then we can actaully work things out, God willing.

What diffrence was in your relationship with the house mates after Goldie left?

Before Goldie left, I didn't really care about the house mates to be totally honest with you, but after she left I felt like it was upon me to just start converstaion and try to stay relevant in the house. If you keep quite to yourself in the house then the chances of getting evicted will be very high but when Goldie was there I felt very comfortable because she was somebody I really cared about. So, the rest of them were really of none existence to me.

Now that the show is over, what next are you wprking on?

I intend to go back to work as a musician. I will put up my album and carry on farming. Life goes on after the Big Brother show whether you win or not at the end of the day it's just a game. When you are inside the house it's a game, people have to understand that, but when you come outside the house it's a reality. So, you can't really cry over spilt milk, it's just to get back to work and see how you can utilize the platform that you got from the Big Brother house.

You were so close to taking the prize money, how did you feel when it eluded you?

To be honest with you, I was very dissapointed because I was a contestant just like every other housemate. We were all targeting the grand prize, so I was dissapointed, but I know the best man has to win and unfortunetly there would be only one winner so I congratulate Kegan for being the winner of the Big Brother Africa Season 7.

How is life in Kenya compared to Nigeria?

Life in Kenya is okay, the traffic is bad but I will tell you it's not as bad compared to Lagos, but the life in Kenya is basically easy. People work hard and play hard at the same.

Do you intend to give back to the society?

I have always been giving to the society even beefore the Big Brother contest. giving to the society has always been a part of me.

How do you hope to manage your female admirers in Nigeria being in a relationship here?

I appreciate the female fans out there no matter where they are either in Nigeria or Kenya, but you know just because you are super star you should not get carried away. I believe every human needs to respect their body and like Goldie will say ''don't touch my body'', so I believe we need to respect our selves and when we do everything just flows.

Besides goldie who do you hope to do a colaboration with here in Nigeria ?

I would like to collaborate with Goldie first and foremost because we both have that vision. Then, 2 Face, Davido and other people who are good in the act and are interested in collabrating with me.

Do you have any plan of going into the movies either back home or here in Nigeria?

Most definately if the opportunity gives itself I do not see why I would not go into it. Like I said, I have been doing some acting back home in my country, so if the opportunity give itself anywhere I will really love to do it.

Can you compare your life before and after the Big Brother show?

I will say I am famous back in East Africa and participating in the Big Brother show has increased my fame. my face has escalade to the roof top and after the Big Brother now it has escaladed further. So, it's just for me to put something good out there because you know right now I have a lot wide fan bas outhere. It is up to me to open the door for them to see what good I have for them.

What particular life style do you live before the contest and which you intend to move on with?

After the Big Brother house, I am just a lot more chilled out than I was before the show. Before, I used to live life on a fast lane, but right now I look at life from a different angle knowing that I had three months to think about everything. So, I am a much more laid back Prezo than I was before I went into the house.

What did the house taught you living with so many different people most especially stars?

To be honest it didn't really teach me much because i already knew the bascis of life, i already knew how to live with people, i already knew about patience and every other thing the only thing was that i had never taken out time to think about it like when i did in the Big Brother house.

Did you feel you were going to win especially with you and Keagan left ?

I thought I would be the winner. In whatever competition you get into you need to believe in yourself before anybody can believe in you, so for me at that particular point in time we both had equal chance of winning. I anticipated I would be the winner of the grand prize.

Do you intend to make your visit to Nigeria a frequently event?

Most definetly, but not only Nigeria but Africa as a continent keeping in mind that I am the global Ambassador for the One Campaign. So, I have to be on the move, doing my research on how we can help Africa as a continent.

How are you getting prepared for the One Campaign ?

So far so good, I can't complain. I am going for orientation next month in the United States and then I will be going to the Head Office in Washington District County, then after that we will have to find out where the problems lies and then we will conquer it.

What are your parting words for your fans?

If you watched the Big Brother show, just keep it in mind that it's just a game, it's a reality show so do not judge any of the contestants including me. We are all human beings, we were just there to entertain some people an some people were not themselves.

You and Goldie had something together but the relationship was off and on. After she was evicted from Big Brother House, you said she used you.
To be honest, when I left my country for Big Brother Africa in South Africa. I went to the house as an individual. I developed feelings for Goldie and with cameras around you and your fellow housemates who are your competitors as well you become paranoid and you’re not sure whether you’re being real or if you are playing games. I have not spoken to Goldie after the show and that’s why I came here for Goldie.

During a press conference held for Goldie she mentioned she loved you. How can you convince her of your love for her?
In all honesty, I care about her and she cares about me. In that house, you don't know what to
expect. With God on my side I pray everything works out well.

Are you divorced?
I was married but now we are separated but I have a baby girl with my ex wife. My baby mama has the divorce papers with her and it is in process. We’ve not been living together for the past 3 years and my wife knows our relationship cannot work. There is no relationship between the both of us anymore.

You said you came to Nigeria for Goldie. Will you marry her?
Yes I will marry her. You will get the invitation soon.

What attracted you to Goldie?
The Prezzo in Big Brother Africa House was a paranoid Prezzo. The attraction was nature taking its course. We found ourselves mostly together all the time. I will tell Goldie I've been thinking about her since I left the house. Emotions started building up when we were in the house. You can't control your emotions.

Why do you make your private life public?

I and Goldie are not private. The whole of Africa knows I and Goldie already so it is not private.

Tell us about your role with ONE Campaign.
It is a very interesting movement and they want us to sell Africa to the world. I am fortunate enough to work with ONE campaign. I don't know other places in Africa where there is malnutrition. My first mission is to share some light in my country, for lack of food and East Africa as a whole. Music is important to Kenya.

What is your status in the Kenyan Music Scene?
Prezzo as an artiste is a household name in Kenyan. I didn't apply for Big Brother Africa show. A lady called me from Endemol and she said she wanted me to be a contestant on the show.

Is Prezzo branding an attention brand?
I look out for success and not attention. As a celebrity out there you expose your self and attention focuses on you.

Are you here just for Goldie or you want to build your fan base? My mission here is to look for Goldie. The time for looking out for fan base will come.

How far are you willing to get Goldie back?
Prezzo: I traveled from East Africa to West Africa and that is just the beginning. The Big Brother House will bring the worst of you and the best of you. 　For everyone who felt offended I am truly sorry, I am not that kind of person. Its just a game of strategy. The BBA House is nothing but a game.