Big Brother Africa: Face to Face with Bertha

Controversial Zimbabwean housemate BERTHA on Sunday became the sixth person to be evicted from the Big Brother house.

Yesterday she spoke to JEAN SUTHERLAND about her life and times in the house. Despite our differences (expressed in various columns over the last few weeks), Bertha and I laughed a lot and sparred a bit.And, aishona, we might even sit down for a cappuccino one of these days: the Zimbabwean says she loves Namibia and is keen to visit! We get chatting and Bertha genuinely sounds like a weight’s been lifted off her shoulders.It even seems like there’s a hint of spring in her voice.She’s obviously thrilled to be reunited with her Mum, has been a bit taken aback by some of the comments on various websites, is bracing for her return to Zimbabwe and generally feels she has emerged the richer for the BBA experience.And no, the devil didn’t make her do anything …! How are you feeling today? How does it feel it to be outside the house? “Wow! It’s exhilarating …the fresh air …space …and I had my first cappuccino in two months.Happy days.”OK Bertha, I understand you’re weighing two options – whether to join an enclosed convent or to become a go-go girl in Las Vegas?!!!! Bertha cracks up laughing and responds “five star, that’s the most original question so far”.But no, she says, “I just want to live life.”You didn’t sleepwalk last night, did you? She laughs.”No.No sleepwalking.”I asked this because on Sunday night when KB asked Bertha about her kisses and cuddles with Kwaku, and sharing a bed with him, she told him: “I sleepwalk a lot, so many things must have happened during my sleep.”! You seemed to be struggling to control your emotions last (Sunday) night? Is it my imagination or does Bertha try to hedge this one a bit.She asks me why.I explain that it looked like she was trying to hold a lot in.Anyway.After a bit of prodding, she says that she’s generally controlled, but admits that Big Brother Sundays are difficult, “very emotional”.”It’s either you or someone you’ve lived alongside up for eviction.It’s not easy.”Were you surprised or shocked to see Lerato, Meryl and Max? “I expected Lerato to be there.Really great to see her and Meryl and Max.It was such a nice surprise.”Apart from wearing ‘Untouchable’ t-shirts, L.M and M had brought along a t-shirt for whoever of their homies ended up being evicted.”I’m wearing mine right now,” Bertha laughs.Did you chat with them at all after the eviction? “There wasn’t a chance.I spent time with my Mum.But we’re trying to get together this afternoon (yesterday).”What did your Mum have to say to you? “My Mum was a viewer 24/7.She’s very proud of me and her support means a lot to me.It’s made a lot of things fade away.”We talk about the intense feelings of some BBA viewers when they either like you or dislike you.I tell her not go on the BBA websites as it can get pretty ugly out there.She says she already has.But, Bertha says, “All the experiences I had in the house prepared me for this.I’ve developed quite a thick skin.When you change strategy or go a certain way there’s definitely going to be a reaction.Fortunately and unfortunately.But I’m strong, I’m taking it in my stride.I know who I am.”Who is Bertha? She replies that she is an “intricate person”.”Bertha can be shy, Bertha is groovy mama, Bertha is an aerobics instructor, a culinary chef.All of that and more rolled into one.”She talks about the constraints of the house and of having nowhere to go when you want to vent your emotions.”You get emotional, you need an outlet for your emotions, and so you just have to be emotional (in the house).”She said she doesn’t cry a lot usually.I question that, and she says that when she watched her house highlights, she found herself asking “who IS this person?” “You’re completely exposed to the world.There’s no privacy.”OK, on to your time in the house …you went in to rave reviews and came out to a fair share of boos.Do you think you underestimated the viewers and their perceptions? Even some of your friends in Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans in general appeared confused by your seemingly dramatic turnaround.”Well, it made for good TV.But I didn’t do it as a showstopper.That wasn’t my intention.Different aspects played out in the show.You go in with a strategy and realise it doesn’t work.There are 11 other people just as individualistic as you are and they’re all thinking they’re going to win the US$100 000.You go through a lot emotionally.I didn’t want to sit on the sidelines anymore.I believe I was true to myself.I’m not going to apologise for who I am.If you don’t fit into some people’s definitions, they can turn very nasty.Some will love you, some will hate you.”You talked about the shallow and profound Kwaku.Were you inferring that Meryl brought out the shallow Kwaku and that you brought out the profound Kwaku …”Uhmm …Jeannnn! …OK.From my background, the space I came from, Meryl shocked me a lot.It was a bit of a culture shock.But she’s a great person and we clicked.She really just shocked me at the start.I didn’t know how to react to her some times, and I even talked about it in my diary sessions.I don’t think she brought out the shallow in him.You know Kwaku would sometimes play out his alter ego, and others would facilitate that.You know his Al Pacino impersonation, for example.Also, I wasn’t as broadminded when I went in there as I am now.That experience just opens your eyes.K has different sides as well.I really enjoyed the conversational, the talking side.”The biggest controversy, of course, was your switch from being holier than thou …from the Bertha who prayed out loud outside about “the flesh is weak” and “I’m not like those people” …”That statement was not a statement in judgement.I didn’t feel I belonged.I felt like a fish out of water.I wasn’t used to that.I didn’t look down on the others.But I’m the kind of person who’s used to walking into a room, knowing where to go and fitting in.On God and religion, people have different beliefs.To me its about your personal relationship with God.It’s a personal journey.I’m no ways near perfect.But nothing changed.Only my external expression changed.”At some point you said you were tired of being what other people wanted you to be.Does that apply to your Christianity as well? “To life in general.People box you up and can get caught up in that.”Do you think you compromised your core values? “No.”I wrote in an earlier column that when you left the house, you would say that the devil made you do it.The devil didn’t make me do anything! It almost seemed to me that you were pursuing Kwaku because you wanted to put one over on Meryl, that it was something personal against Meryl? That initially it was more about Meryl than Kwaku …”Oh no.Meryl’s a very sweet girl.When I was injured, she was really there for me.There was no malice on my part.On K, I actually felt a connection with him right from the start.I meant what I said about Kwaku, he’s a very good friend and I hope it will last past eviction.And also with Lerato and with Meryl.I hope we can find common ground and move past this point.”Early on you were very critical of Meryl and others sleeping with the guys, then you did the same thing …”You go through so much transitionally.Go through so many emotions.If I kept on thinking of the world outside and trying to live inside I would have ended up in knots.You have to make a choice.I made mistakes although I have no regrets because I have learnt from my mistakes.I may have gone with a cynical attitude …It’s a totally different world in the house.I don’t know if it’s cynical but you have to learn to accommodate other people.”I respond that she certainly accommodated Kwaku, to which Bertha let’s out another …”Jeannnn …” Even in the context of the game, don’t you think it was a bit mean to go after Kwaku during the week that Meryl was up for eviction? Even on the Sunday morning you were working the situation …”That may have been an error of judgement.In the house the concept of time doesn’t apply.And you can lose perspective.”When asked about Meryl, yourself and Kwaku in your eviction interview, you said sharing is caring.Yet I recall that at some point you were pretty adamant that you’re not into sharing.Did you mean this in the African context of polygamy? “No! It was meant in good humour.I was enjoying the interview with KB.”Do you think there is anything you can learn from Meryl? “Yes, that you can be as free as you want to be.She’s very vibrant, very open minded, aspects I wish I had but obviously with my own boundaries.”Do you think Richard is sexy? “Hmmmm …well, yes …Until he wore the bra!” Do you think Rich and Tati are playing, or that it’s developed into something they can’t control? “Don’t know about the control, but they do have feelings for one another.”What does the future hold for you? “Anything is possible.I’m ready for whatever post-eviction doors open.”And will you be going to church on Sunday? “Yes, no problem!” Anything you want to say that I may not have asked you? “I love Namibia.Meryl’s my girl and part of the ‘Untouchables’, and I’d love to see those beautiful sand dunes of yours …” OK Bertha, thanks for the time and wishing you all the best in whatever you pursue …Despite our differences (expressed in various columns over the last few weeks), Bertha and I laughed a lot and sparred a bit.And, aishona, we might even sit down for a cappuccino one of these days: the Zimbabwean says she loves Namibia and is keen to visit! We get chatting and Bertha genuinely sounds like a weight’s been lifted off her shoulders.It even seems like there’s a hint of spring in her voice.She’s obviously thrilled to be reunited with her Mum, has been a bit taken aback by some of the comments on various websites, is bracing for her return to Zimbabwe and generally feels she has emerged the richer for the BBA experience.And no, the devil didn’t make her do anything …! How are you feeling today? How does it feel it to be outside the house? “Wow! It’s exhilarating …the fresh air …space …and I had my first cappuccino in two months.Happy days.”OK Bertha, I understand you’re weighing two options – whether to join an enclosed convent or to become a go-go girl in Las Vegas?!!!! Bertha cracks up laughing and responds “five star, that’s the most original question so far”.But no, she says, “I just want to live life.”You didn’t sleepwalk last night, did you? She laughs.”No.No sleepwalking.”I asked this because on Sunday night when KB asked Bertha about her kisses and cuddles with Kwaku, and sharing a bed with him, she told him: “I sleepwalk a lot, so many things must have happened during my sleep.”! You seemed to be struggling to control your emotions last (Sunday) night? Is it my imagination or does Bertha try to hedge this one a bit.She asks me why.I explain that it looked like she was trying to hold a lot in.Anyway.After a bit of prodding, she says that she’s generally controlled, but admits that Big Brother Sundays are difficult, “very emotional”.”It’s either you or someone you’ve lived alongside up for eviction.It’s not easy.”Were you surprised or shocked to see Lerato, Meryl and Max? “I expected Lerato to be there.Really great to see her and Meryl and Max.It was such a nice surprise.”Apart from wearing ‘Untouchable’ t-shirts, L.M and M had brought along a t-shirt for whoever of their homies ended up being evicted.”I’m wearing mine right now,” Bertha laughs.Did you chat with them at all after the eviction? “There wasn’t a chance.I spent time with my Mum.But we’re trying to get together this afternoon (yesterday).” What did your Mum have to say to you? “My Mum was a viewer 24/7.She’s very proud of me and her support means a lot to me.It’s made a lot of things fade away.”We talk about the intense feelings of some BBA viewers when they either like you or dislike you.I tell her not go on the BBA websites as it can get pretty ugly out there.She says she already has.But, Bertha says, “All the experiences I had in the house prepared me for this.I’ve developed quite a thick skin.When you change strategy or go a certain way there’s definitely going to be a reaction.Fortunately and unfortunately.But I’m strong, I’m taking it in my stride.I know who I am.”Who is Bertha? She replies that she is an “intricate person”.”Bertha can be shy, Bertha is groovy mama, Bertha is an aerobics instructor, a culinary chef.All of that and more rolled into one.”She talks about the constraints of the house and of having nowhere to go when you want to vent your emotions.”You get emotional, you need an outlet for your emotions, and so you just have to be emotional (in the house).”She said she doesn’t cry a lot usually.I question that, and she says that when she watched her house highlights, she found herself asking “who IS this person?” “You’re completely exposed to the world.There’s no privacy.”OK, on to your time in the house …you went in to rave reviews and came out to a fair share of boos.Do you think you underestimated the viewers and their perceptions? Even some of your friends in Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans in general appeared confused by your seemingly dramatic turnaround.”Well, it made for good TV.But I didn’t do it as a showstopper.That wasn’t my intention.Different aspects played out in the show.You go in with a strategy and realise it doesn’t work.There are 11 other people just as individualistic as you are and they’re all thinking they’re going to win the US$100 000.You go through a lot emotionally.I didn’t want to sit on the sidelines anymore.I believe I was true to myself.I’m not going to apologise for who I am.If you don’t fit into some people’s definitions, they can turn very nasty.Some will love you, some will hate you.”You talked about the shallow and profound Kwaku.Were you inferring that Meryl brought out the shallow Kwaku and that you brought out the profound Kwaku …”Uhmm …Jeannnn! …OK.From my background, the space I came from, Meryl shocked me a lot.It was a bit of a culture shock.But she’s a great person and we clicked.She really just shocked me at the start.I didn’t know how to react to her some times, and I even talked about it in my diary sessions.I don’t think she brought out the shallow in him.You know Kwaku would sometimes play out his alter ego, and others would facilitate that.You know his Al Pacino impersonation, for example.Also, I wasn’t as broadminded when I went in there as I am now.That experience just opens your eyes.K has different sides as well.I really enjoyed the conversational, the talking side.”The biggest controversy, of course, was your switch from being holier than thou …from the Bertha who prayed out loud outside about “the flesh is weak” and “I’m not like those people” …”That statement was not a statement in judgement.I didn’t feel I belonged.I felt like a fish out of water.I wasn’t used to that.I didn’t look down on the others.But I’m the kind of person who’s used to walking into a room, knowing where to go and fitting in.On God and religion, people have different beliefs.To me its about your personal relationship with God.It’s a personal journey.I’m no ways near perfect.But nothing changed.Only my external expression changed.”At some point you said you were tired of being what other people wanted you to be.Does that apply to your Christianity as well? “To life in general.People box you up and can get caught up in that.”Do you think you compromised your core values? “No.”I wrote in an earlier column that when you left the house, you would say that the devil made you do it.The devil didn’t make me do anything! It almost seemed to me that you were pursuing Kwaku because you wanted to put one over on Meryl, that it was something personal against Meryl? That initially it was more about Meryl than Kwaku …”Oh no.Meryl’s a very sweet girl.When I was injured, she was really there for me.There was no malice on my part.On K, I actually felt a connection with him right from the start.I meant what I said about Kwaku, he’s a very good friend and I hope it will last past eviction.And also with Lerato and with Meryl.I hope we can find common ground and move past this point.”Early on you were very critical of Meryl and others sleeping with the guys, then you did the same thing …”You go through so much transitionally.Go through so many emotions.If I kept on thinking of the world outside and trying to live inside I would have ended up in knots.You have to make a choice.I made mistakes although I have no regrets because I have learnt from my mistakes.I may have gone with a cynical attitude …It’s a totally different world in the house.I don’t know if it’s cynical but you have to learn to accommodate other people.”I respond that she certainly accommodated Kwaku, to which Bertha let’s out another …”Jeannnn …” Even in the context of the game, don’t you think it was a bit mean to go after Kwaku during the week that Meryl was up for eviction? Even on the Sunday morning you were working the situation …”That may have been an error of judgement.In the house the concept of time doesn’t apply.And you can lose perspective.”When asked about Meryl, yourself and Kwaku in your eviction interview, you said sharing is caring.Yet I recall that at some point you were pretty adamant that you’re not into sharing.Did you mean this in the African context of polygamy? “No! It was meant in good humour.I was enjoying the interview with KB.”Do you think there is anything you can learn from Meryl? “Yes, that you can be as free as you want to be.She’s very vibrant, very open minded, aspects I wish I had but obviously with my own boundaries.”Do you think Richard is sexy? “Hmmmm …well, yes …Until he wore the bra!” Do you think Rich and Tati are playing, or that it’s developed into something they can’t control? “Don’t know about the control, but they do have feelings for one another.”What does the future hold for you? “Anything is possible.I’m ready for whatever post-eviction doors open.”And will you be going to church on Sunday? “Yes, no problem!” Anything you want to say that I may not have asked you? “I love Namibia.Meryl’s my girl and part of the ‘Untouchables’, and I’d love to see those beautiful sand dunes of yours …” OK Bertha, thanks for the time and wishing you all the best in whatever you pursue …