‘In the house things just happen: I couldn’t fight the attraction to code
Nov 01, 2007
SHE represented Uganda in the ongoing DStv reality show, Big Brother Africa2, emerging fourth in the $100,000 competition.
SHE represented Uganda in the ongoing DStv reality show, Big Brother Africa2, emerging fourth in the $100,000 competition. Nigel Nassar had a chat with her.
You look beautiful, Maureen
Thank you, Nigel. And by the way, I made this dress myself. I am a professional fashion designer, remember?
So how come we did not see much of your fashion designing clout when you were in the house? In fact, viewers complained you did not have clothes.
That was an oversight. I thought Big Brother would provide all the clothing. So I took only a few clothes I would use at my hotel room before going to the Big Brother house. And those are all I had for the entire 84 days I stayed there.
But I showcased fashion designing skills during the recycler fashion house task. Even Big Brother commended me for making a very impressive outfit, remember?
I find you really articulate today. How come you hardly spoke, yet when you did, you had a lot of that bla bla bla mannerism?
I am not really the type that competes to be heard. Most of those people in the house were really loud mouths. So did you expect me to join the confusion and end up screaming?
In such a case, I sit back and observe. And when I have a moment, I say out my mind. Didn’t you see most of those loud ones get evicted one after another? It’s being reserved that kept me in the house this long.
About bla bla bla, that is my way of cutting out something that might offend you. If I think it is better you do not hear it all, I say bla bla bla. And it works.
Code voted you in the first nominations for possible eviction. How did you feel when you found out, yet the two of you were very close?
I was not bothered at all. I just appreciated it was all a game. Maybe he had his reasons. Maybe he had not learned to like me yet.
It also turned out that Code had a fiancée — not just a fiancée, but a five-month pregnant one. Do you still insist you love him?
Well, Code always told me he had a girlfriend, and I told him I had a boyfriend. But what we could not fight was being attracted to each other. In that house, you would not know you were falling in love. Things just happened. But that was then.
Right now, we both have to move on. If I really loved him, I have to be able to let go. And that is what I have done. Our relationship right now is entirely friendly and we are both cool with it. In fact, he has invited me and I will be going to Malawi to visit him and his fiancée. He will also come here soon.
Did you have sex with him?
No I did not. I had to keep myself in check. I know any woman who is worth something good should be waited for until she is sure giving in to sex is what she wants. Unlike men, women live with it on their conscience. Yet a man sleeps with you today and by tomorrow, he has probably forgotten your name.
Do you regret not having it with him, considering he is now so taken?
I have no regrets about a thing I did or did not do in that house. Now I would be considering myself used if I had given in. I am proud of myself for the self- restraint.
Do you still love your boyfriend Moses Ogaa?
Oh yes, I do love him.
How does he feel about your getting romantic with Code?
We have talked it over and he is okay with everything. In fact, he respects the way I handled things in the house, especially not giving in to Code’s demands for sex. He thinks I am a very strong woman. We might have hurdles here and there, but those should not be hard to iron out.
Any plans to walk down the aisle with him?
About that, we need time. For now, I cannot speak for him. I am not going to push for anything. I will give him time and when it happens, so be it.
Initially, Kwaku had a thing for you and it seemed like you were forthcoming. Then before we knew, you were in Code’s arms
Look, you cannot keep having things for whoever has a thing for you. I was not even forthcoming. I was only being friendly. That thing, whatever it was, was not reciprocal. That is why it did not go further.
Richard also seemed to hit on you all the time. What was it with you and the boys?
I do not know. Maybe you might need to ask them what it was with them and me.
What is so special about Code that made you so smitten?
Code is an artistic person, just like me. We had lots of things in common. He also had that inner beauty. And whenever he disrespected me, he would always apologise.
You used to go to bed so dressed up – the knickers, and then the trousers. What was that about?
I used to share a bed with a male, who happened not to be my brother. Who knows? I did not want to tempt him.
In the house, you seemed to tell a story about your primary school teacher either raping you or trying to rape you, but you broke down and left us in suspense. Did he or did he not?
He attempted to rape me. But I got away.
Why didn’t you report?
I was a kid, Nigel. I did not even know how to start.
What was the name of that teacher?
I cannot say it.
Do you know you are protecting a criminal? It makes you an accomplice.
Just leave it at that. I do not want haters, after all, I survived. In fact that is the reason Big Brother used to play for me the survivor song — I am a survivor.
You cried when you saw your mother upon eviction. Had you promised her you would bring the money home?
It was not about not winning the money. I had not seen her in a very long time. So the joy of seeing her made me cry.
Speaking of crying, don’t you think it cost you the money, showing you missed Code so much, talking to yourself and crying for Ofunneka’s friendship?
I am so emotional. When something Is hurting, I cry and let it off. I missed Code. I found myself crying. I really loved Ofunneka. I was true to her from the beginning.
And when she started treating me coldly, I had to try find out what I had done wrong since it bothered me. That is Maureen. So if I missed the money for that, it was because I was being real. I do not know how to act. All you saw of me in the house was real.
Who do you think will win the money?
I used to think Richard would. But from what I see, I think Tatiana might.
Were you given any money?
I will tell you when the time is ripe.
Why did Bertha hate you so much?
She told me she thought I was a tight contender. So I thought that was why. But I think she had more issues than just that — probably because I had Code in my hands, yet she had also tried to establish some closeness with him.
You exuded talent in contemporary dance, yoga, fashion designing, name it. Which of these do we see you concentrating on now that Big Brother is over for you?
I just need time to sit down and make a decision. That will be after I have gone back to South Africa for the finale and got what there is for me. That is when I can decide. But I have promised myself to make it.
Your best moment in the house
When I became head of house. My worst was when Big Brother was not around. The housemates got so rowdy, yet Big Brother was not there to put them in check.
Anything you will miss in the house?
The craziness.
You look beautiful, Maureen
Thank you, Nigel. And by the way, I made this dress myself. I am a professional fashion designer, remember?
So how come we did not see much of your fashion designing clout when you were in the house? In fact, viewers complained you did not have clothes.
That was an oversight. I thought Big Brother would provide all the clothing. So I took only a few clothes I would use at my hotel room before going to the Big Brother house. And those are all I had for the entire 84 days I stayed there.
But I showcased fashion designing skills during the recycler fashion house task. Even Big Brother commended me for making a very impressive outfit, remember?
I find you really articulate today. How come you hardly spoke, yet when you did, you had a lot of that bla bla bla mannerism?
I am not really the type that competes to be heard. Most of those people in the house were really loud mouths. So did you expect me to join the confusion and end up screaming?
In such a case, I sit back and observe. And when I have a moment, I say out my mind. Didn’t you see most of those loud ones get evicted one after another? It’s being reserved that kept me in the house this long.
About bla bla bla, that is my way of cutting out something that might offend you. If I think it is better you do not hear it all, I say bla bla bla. And it works.
Code voted you in the first nominations for possible eviction. How did you feel when you found out, yet the two of you were very close?
I was not bothered at all. I just appreciated it was all a game. Maybe he had his reasons. Maybe he had not learned to like me yet.
It also turned out that Code had a fiancée — not just a fiancée, but a five-month pregnant one. Do you still insist you love him?
Well, Code always told me he had a girlfriend, and I told him I had a boyfriend. But what we could not fight was being attracted to each other. In that house, you would not know you were falling in love. Things just happened. But that was then.
Right now, we both have to move on. If I really loved him, I have to be able to let go. And that is what I have done. Our relationship right now is entirely friendly and we are both cool with it. In fact, he has invited me and I will be going to Malawi to visit him and his fiancée. He will also come here soon.
Did you have sex with him?
No I did not. I had to keep myself in check. I know any woman who is worth something good should be waited for until she is sure giving in to sex is what she wants. Unlike men, women live with it on their conscience. Yet a man sleeps with you today and by tomorrow, he has probably forgotten your name.
Do you regret not having it with him, considering he is now so taken?
I have no regrets about a thing I did or did not do in that house. Now I would be considering myself used if I had given in. I am proud of myself for the self- restraint.
Do you still love your boyfriend Moses Ogaa?
Oh yes, I do love him.
How does he feel about your getting romantic with Code?
We have talked it over and he is okay with everything. In fact, he respects the way I handled things in the house, especially not giving in to Code’s demands for sex. He thinks I am a very strong woman. We might have hurdles here and there, but those should not be hard to iron out.
Any plans to walk down the aisle with him?
About that, we need time. For now, I cannot speak for him. I am not going to push for anything. I will give him time and when it happens, so be it.
Initially, Kwaku had a thing for you and it seemed like you were forthcoming. Then before we knew, you were in Code’s arms
Look, you cannot keep having things for whoever has a thing for you. I was not even forthcoming. I was only being friendly. That thing, whatever it was, was not reciprocal. That is why it did not go further.
Richard also seemed to hit on you all the time. What was it with you and the boys?
I do not know. Maybe you might need to ask them what it was with them and me.
What is so special about Code that made you so smitten?
Code is an artistic person, just like me. We had lots of things in common. He also had that inner beauty. And whenever he disrespected me, he would always apologise.
You used to go to bed so dressed up – the knickers, and then the trousers. What was that about?
I used to share a bed with a male, who happened not to be my brother. Who knows? I did not want to tempt him.
In the house, you seemed to tell a story about your primary school teacher either raping you or trying to rape you, but you broke down and left us in suspense. Did he or did he not?
He attempted to rape me. But I got away.
Why didn’t you report?
I was a kid, Nigel. I did not even know how to start.
What was the name of that teacher?
I cannot say it.
Do you know you are protecting a criminal? It makes you an accomplice.
Just leave it at that. I do not want haters, after all, I survived. In fact that is the reason Big Brother used to play for me the survivor song — I am a survivor.
You cried when you saw your mother upon eviction. Had you promised her you would bring the money home?
It was not about not winning the money. I had not seen her in a very long time. So the joy of seeing her made me cry.
Speaking of crying, don’t you think it cost you the money, showing you missed Code so much, talking to yourself and crying for Ofunneka’s friendship?
I am so emotional. When something Is hurting, I cry and let it off. I missed Code. I found myself crying. I really loved Ofunneka. I was true to her from the beginning.
And when she started treating me coldly, I had to try find out what I had done wrong since it bothered me. That is Maureen. So if I missed the money for that, it was because I was being real. I do not know how to act. All you saw of me in the house was real.
Who do you think will win the money?
I used to think Richard would. But from what I see, I think Tatiana might.
Were you given any money?
I will tell you when the time is ripe.
Why did Bertha hate you so much?
She told me she thought I was a tight contender. So I thought that was why. But I think she had more issues than just that — probably because I had Code in my hands, yet she had also tried to establish some closeness with him.
You exuded talent in contemporary dance, yoga, fashion designing, name it. Which of these do we see you concentrating on now that Big Brother is over for you?
I just need time to sit down and make a decision. That will be after I have gone back to South Africa for the finale and got what there is for me. That is when I can decide. But I have promised myself to make it.
Your best moment in the house
When I became head of house. My worst was when Big Brother was not around. The housemates got so rowdy, yet Big Brother was not there to put them in check.
Anything you will miss in the house?
The craziness.