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Uganda: Before Reality Shows Made Them...
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The Weekly Observer (Kampala)
7 August 2008
Posted to the web 7 August 2008
David Tash Lumu
The magic of reality television shows is powerful. Unique and revealing...but beyond the reality televisions is stardom; the supernatural force that decorates nobodies into celebrities of sorts.
Sometimes from "grass to brass." And some of the Ugandan reality stars have walked this heavy path to stardom. They have outclassed fellow contestants to kiss fame and played the dirtiest stuff on TV to make their names.
From Blu*3, Gaetano Juuko Kagwa to Maureen Namatovu and now Esther Mugizi - they slowly crawled to fame.
Blu*3
These girls set the ball rolling for reality stars in Uganda. Even when the initial crew split, their music together remains a great pinch - still felt in clubs, TVs and radios. Some people up to now vehemently stress, "We prefer them with Cindy." Well, that could be because unlike Mya (Cindy's replacement at Blu3), Cinderella Sanyu was made by the public. It all started four years ago when the beautiful-voiced, bootylicious girls made a tumultuous return home after scooping the East African Coca-Cola pop star accolade in 2003. Cindy, Jackie Chandiru and Lillian Mbabazi were made.
Blu*3 enjoyed a massive following in East Africa and by the time their first album was released, the trio were already promising big international tours. From all the hype around them, it is hard to believe no one knew them before. Before a reality show made them, Cindy was in high school while Jackie and Lillian were studying at Makerere University.
Gaetano Juuko Kagwa
For Gaetano the reality TV show Big Brother Africa did an overhaul to his life and destiny.
The Capital Fm presenter and MNET show Studio 53 co- host became a public figure. Everyone wondered who this Gae was. "Who's this Gaetano boy...?" Museveni one time wondered. When he came back from the South African house, he was flown to Tororo to meet the president. Singer Bebe Cool composed a song for him and nothing compared Ugandans for the crowd that thronged Entebbe airport to welcome him back.
He did not even win the $100,000 that went to Zambia's Cherise Makubale. Everyone was simply excited watching a Ugandan on television. Oddly, the fact that he made out with the South African contestant Abby Plaatjes live on TV seemed to underline his celebrity status more.
Gaetano dropped out of the law class at Makerere University to participate in Big Brother Africa. Was it a wise choice? Looks that way!
The formerly little-known law student lasted 106 days in the house, picked a love interest in Abby and stardom along the way! The 106 days were enough to make him UN goodwill ambassador material, radio presenter, TV presenter, popular emcee and a household name. What would Gae have done without TV?
Maureen Namatovu
No wonder four years later, Maureen Namatovu fought her way into that Big Brother Africa House, where stars are made. Besides, they don't even have to win!
Though her eviction from the Big Brother house didn't surprise many Ugandans who claimed that the petit fashion designer was the "worst kisser" ever on screen, she had left her mark.
The impressive young lady at least got thrown into the limelight on the Ugandan and international scene. She did 40 interviews in South Africa alone; in fact, life of being a celeb had just started.
In Uganda, she received hugs like water, flocked dinners and partied her legs off. And as a habit in the popular Big Brother Africa house, her sexual exploits with Malawian male housemate Code, sparked a heated debate but the little girl had made it from little-known designer to a hot cake in Uganda...
Esther Nabaasa Mugizi
Still fresh in the minds of Ugandans and she's still in a jubilant mood I believe, Esther won the second Tusker Project Fame competition. She came home with a grocery package worth Ushs 130m and a recording contract. To think no body knew her before then! Even with her great voice and looks, Esther had managed to trek 21 years in this small country unnoticed, until a reality TV show came along.
She edged out 17 contestants to clinch the academy's top prize. Her beautiful voice caught the judges and East African alike off guard.
And like she put it on her return home, "The academy was a time for self-discovery." But she forgot one thing, the people outside the academy also discovered her.
Who would have known her great vocal command? What of her piercing sensual performance and breath-taking originality that surpassed her reserved and shy demeanour during the academy? But now her destiny is clear cut...the fans know her, what more. She has the dime, the looks, the talent and the adoring fans. You have not heard the last of Esther!
Then of course we cannot forget the most recent addition to this list: Nicolette Kiige, the Zimbabwe-born songbird that almost swept the Idols East Africa top prize. She came second. But in these things, that is more than enough to add one to celeb ranks.
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That she is joining Makerere University in a few weeks does not help matters one bit. This is another girl to look out for on the social scene.
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