Big Brother Africa 3: Standing up for poverty?

IN yet another repetition of a task from last year, the housemates are standing up for poverty across the continent.

Well, morally this task is on point so I won’t complain about the BBA producers’ lack of creativity – again. But you know, been there done that.It’s the United Nations Stand Up and Take Action Week and housemates have been asked to brainstorm ideas on how to combat and eradicate the widespread and incessant cases of poverty throughout the continent.Noble enough as an idea but how effective will it really be? Sure, this week’s task could inspire people across the continent to try to do something to change things for the better but in all honesty, it probably won’t inspire a mass move towards charity.Sad but true.AN ANTHEM FOR AFRICA The first part of the task required the housemates to compose an anthem for the campaign.I have to say, even though they did not really put in that much effort, the song was quite good.Makes you wonder what they can really do when they put in 100 per cent effort.Morris read out a Martin Luther King-like speech, while Mimi did backing vocals.The rest joined in for the chorus.Surprisingly, Ricco and Munya’s rap performance was by far better than the supposed professional, TK.If that’s what a professional rap sounds like then it proves that his skills at kissing (bad as they clearly are) are even better than his rhyming.Judging by the look on Sheila’s face just after he kissed her, that is saying a lot.The housemates got the chance to send some shout-outs to Africa.Sending messages of love and hope to the people most affected by poverty.From the diary room? I don’t want to be negative but come on? Why is Biggie setting this task if his goal is merely to patronise those people out there who are genuinely struggling to make it day after day.People who are so poor that they don’t even have running water or electricity are not going to be watching BBA III.They are too busy hustling, just trying to get a little something to eat or a warm place to sleep at night.’WHAT CAN WE DO?’ Perhaps the goal of this task is in fact to inspire other Africans, those who are able to donate their money or their time to improving poverty on the continent.Hopefully, not everyone out there is cynical and jaded and there are those who still believe that even just a few can make a big difference.After that they all watched a DVD about the strides made to combat poverty by the UN in recent years.They were instructed by Biggie to discuss the challenges facing each of their individual countries and propose measures that might make a difference.OK.That is all well and good but come on, these guys are not politicians.They don’t have the power to effect any of these changes, no matter how brilliant they may be.As much as they have this wonderful platform from which to do something meaningful, I doubt very strongly that African leaders are glued to Channel 198 – just waiting to get some ideas.Well, maybe.You never know – some of them might just benefit from it.And what’s this about baking cookies for charity? Are the cookies going to be sold off and the proceeds go to charity or will glutinous TK just stuff them down his already inflated belly? How on earth are baking cookies going to inspire millions of Africans? Those starving or living off less than enough? Cookies? * Keep watching all the action on DStv Channel 198 and see the daily highlight shows every night at 20h00.What do you think of this week’s task? Send your opinions, views and thoughts to bba@namibian.com.na.But you know, been there done that.It’s the United Nations Stand Up and Take Action Week and housemates have been asked to brainstorm ideas on how to combat and eradicate the widespread and incessant cases of poverty throughout the continent.Noble enough as an idea but how effective will it really be? Sure, this week’s task could inspire people across the continent to try to do something to change things for the better but in all honesty, it probably won’t inspire a mass move towards charity.Sad but true. AN ANTHEM FOR AFRICA The first part of the task required the housemates to compose an anthem for the campaign.I have to say, even though they did not really put in that much effort, the song was quite good.Makes you wonder what they can really do when they put in 100 per cent effort.Morris read out a Martin Luther King-like speech, while Mimi did backing vocals.The rest joined in for the chorus.Surprisingly, Ricco and Munya’s rap performance was by far better than the supposed professional, TK.If that’s what a professional rap sounds like then it proves that his skills at kissing (bad as they clearly are) are even better than his rhyming.Judging by the look on Sheila’s face just after he kissed her, that is saying a lot.The housemates got the chance to send some shout-outs to Africa.Sending messages of love and hope to the people most affected by poverty.From the diary room? I don’t want to be negative but come on? Why is Biggie setting this task if his goal is merely to patronise those people out there who are genuinely struggling to make it day after day.People who are so poor that they don’t even have running water or electricity are not going to be watching BBA III.They are too busy hustling, just trying to get a little something to eat or a warm place to sleep at night. ‘WHAT CAN WE DO?’ Perhaps the goal of this task is in fact to inspire other Africans, those who are able to donate their money or their time to improving poverty on the continent.Hopefully, not everyone out there is cynical and jaded and there are those who still believe that even just a few can make a big difference.After that they all watched a DVD about the strides made to combat poverty by the UN in recent years.They were instructed by Biggie to discuss the challenges facing each of their individual countries and propose measures that might make a difference.OK.That is all well and good but come on, these guys are not politicians.They don’t have the power to effect any of these changes, no matter how brilliant they may be.As much as they have this wonderful platform from which to do something meaningful, I doubt very strongly that African leaders are glued to Channel 198 – just waiting to get some ideas.Well, maybe.You never know – some of them might just benefit from it.And what’s this about baking cookies for charity? Are the cookies going to be sold off and the proceeds go to charity or will glutinous TK just stuff them down his already inflated belly? How on earth are baking cookies going to inspire millions of Africans? Those starving or living off less than enough? Cookies? * Keep watching all the action on DStv Channel 198 and see the daily highlight shows every night at 20h00.What do you think of this week’s task? Send your opinions, views and thoughts to bba@namibian.com.na.