Housemates star-struck by Keri

By Nigel Nassar
WHAT a spectacle it was when American R&B/Hip-Hop sensation Keri Hilson set foot in the Big Brother Revolution house Friday night!
You would think the housemates were meeting a Czar of some sort, no wonder during her two-hour stay in the house, no adverts played on the channel.

Now, if you don’t know Keri, you might want to Google her, as this space won’t suffice her profile.

But just a few pointers: she recently won Best New Artist at the 2009 BET Awards, was named Best R&B/Soul Act at the 2009 MOBO Awards, and her debut album, In a Perfect World (2009), has won her international acclaim, with hit singles like Energy, Turnin’ Me On and Knock You Down featuring Kanye West and Ne-yo.

And, oh, she was born the same year as I (1982). Now that makes her a big deal.

And when she paid a surprise visit to the M-Net reality show, she was really a big deal.

Biggie first played the housemates a medley of her songs as they awaited their usual weekend treat – a celebrity guest who spends the weekend in the house.

When the door to the garden opened, it revealed a mini stage, shooting the housemates’ anxiety up as they wondered who would be performing on the stage for them.

Their guesses were limited to only African artistes, with no one hinting about Keri.

Then, Keri’s queen dancers; Sophie and Jena, emerged onto the stage, dancing to Keri’s beats.

When Keri herself emerged, eyes hidden beneath black shades atop a pair of black skintight pants and a black top bedazzled with the international symbol of peace, the housemates went crazy screaming in delight as Keri intoned her signature line – “Miss Keri baby!”

A wait-a-minute moment took over – housemates not believing it was her.
Then, like a possessed one, Nigeria’s Nkenna jumped onto the stage, getting allover the gorgeous diva before getting joined by the others to the end of the hit Turnin’ Me On.

Every housemate turned on their charm as they took her around the house, with Namibia’s Edward showing her his photos, Mozambique’s Krystal giving her a souvenir map of Africa in exchange for the star’s designer shades, plus all the girls changing into their Sunday best to take pictures with her.

Tanzania’s Elizabeth too gave her something the guy on the camera was too slow to show us (somebody sack that guy).

Angola’s Emma sang her Alicia Keys’s Falling, while Kevin and Kaone serenaded her with freestyle rap.
Everyone all of a sudden felt a close association with the diva. When Keri said she liked something, everyone else went: “me too.”

When she washed her hands, South Africa’s Quinn was fast to get her wipe her hands using the t-shirt he was wearing. He said later he will never wash it again so that Keri’s scent stays in it.

“I have never felt this welcome, can’t wait to come back to Africa, people here are so lovely,” said the diva, whose down-to-earth personae amazed all.

She talked and joked with the housemates so freely that Krystal said: “She’s so a human being.” She toasted and dined with the housemates, telling how making it has not been easy.

Emma, whose dream is to be a musician, said Keri’s inspirational talk and drive inspired her to keep going.

Keri was still eating when she was called to perform her second and last hit, Knock You Down, before hugging each one goodbye and leaving them star-struck, with Elizabeth sprawled down on the lawn trying to cool it off and going: “Biggie that was too much.”