Although it is regarded as just another pet wagging its tail, Feggilitious’s gestures was a joyous one which rhymes with the mood of the moment in the family. It could be said that the dog was also celebrating the victory of one of his masters whom he hadn’t seen in about 91 days.
At the far corner of the Chuwang Pam’s compound, two pictures of Kevin hung on the back windshield of a Peugeot Salon with inscription ‘vote for Kevin’.
HOUSE UNDER RENOVATION
Although Kevin’s step mother declined to grant interview based on an instruction given to her by husband (Kevin’s father) who was in far away South Africa with the new African star, she, however, allowed this reporter to observe the activities going on in the house. Everything was in the making for the reception of their son who left home as Kevin Chuwang Pam but was returning as the BBA star for the year 2009 and richer with the sum of N$200,000.00 (about N34 million).
Located at the outskirt of the Jos, Dogon Dutse is the area that has been playing host to the Chuwang Pam’s family where Kevin has lived all his life. Situated precisely at the heel of the mountain of Dogon Dutse the serene environment, the neighbourhood and even the Pams family did not, for once, know that living amongst them was a future African star.
Aliyu Abdulmalik, a next door neighbour of the Pams, explained the situation thus: “To be honest, I feel proud to hear that he was the winner. In fact, he has made the residence of Dogon Dutse proud and he should continue to keep up with the spirit as the sky is his limit.”
Ladi Adamu, who sells recharge cards along the road that leads to Kevin’s lane, described the victory of Kevin as a great achievement for the people of Jos, Plateau state in general: “This shows what the state and the country is made up in general. I am really happy for him,” she declared, smiling.
Another resident who craved for anonymity said he was shocked when he heard of Kevin’s victory. “I didn’t watch the show, but I was surprise when I heard of his victory. The truth is that Nigeria is proving to the world everyday that it is really the giant of Africa,” the man said.
kevins’ fans speaks
Kevin’s Jos-based fans were also not left out in savouring the victory of their new BBA star. Hear Cecilia Olayiwola’s comment: “Kevin was naturally born for that victory. It showed in every step of the show that he was going to win the show. If you look at all the tasks given in the house, he used to be the first to finish or he would do them very well. This made him to become the Head of House (HOH) about three times”.
She continued, “he was humble, kind and, above all, with the way her comported himself in the show, I’m sure that most viewers, including the house mates, knew he would bag that award.”
Indeed, some of the house mates saw it coming. At the end of the show, Emma, a lady from Angola blurted it out, screaming and telling Kevin “I told you, I told you, come and give me a hug. I told him earlier that he was going to win the money”.
Michael Danladi, however, related Kevin’s victory to his prior experience at the ‘Next Movie Star’ reality TV show where Kevin emerged the second runner up. “You know, when you have an experience of something, you tend to have an edge over other people. That has really helped him because the talents he showed during that show gave a lot of viewers the insight the he was going to be the winner of the contest.”
Kevin was a housemate when in a Nigerian Reality TV show called ‘The Next Movie Star,’ sponsored by Heir Thermacool in 2006 where he emerged the second runner-up. During his 30 days stay as a housemate, he exhibited his skills in football, jokes cracking, mawing, dancing and making friends. These earned him a second position. He was able to replicate these skills during his 91 days stay in BBA. At that time in 2006, Kevin 24, was a youth corps member, serving in Lagos.
PLATEAU AUTHORITIES PREPARE FOR HIS ARRIVAL
Plateau state government was quick congratulate Kevin for his victory, saying he had made the state and, indeed, the county at large, proud by winning the Big Brother Africa Revolution reality TV show.
The Gbong Gwom of Jos, Elder Gyang Buba, has also stated that his people, the Berom Nation, would honour Chuwang Kevin Pam for winning the prestigious price of $200,000 at this year’s finals of the Big Brother Africa competition in South Africa.
He said the feat achieved by Kevin did not only represents the spirit of rebranding of the country, but was an international image packaging that youths of the country can do better if they exhibit good qualities they are known for.
HOW THE JOURNEY TO GREATENS BEGINS
The BBA Revolution, from the start, had 45 contestants from different African countries. At the beginning of the contest only male house mates were ushered in. This was followed by female house mates some weeks later, which set the ball rolling for the contest.
The four remaining house mates waited through a two-nerve cracking hours before the winner was announced, but not before the eviction sledge hammer landed on Mzamo of Malawi, Nneka from Nigeria and Edward from Namibia.
The eviction, however, placed Emma’s Angola who predicted Kevin’s victory as the second runner-up for the show which ended the 91-day show of skill exhibition by the house mates.
From all indications, as the news of Kevin’s victory becomes a household news in Nigeria as a whole, his home town (Jos) appears to be ‘Jostfied.’ Kevin will not only run into the warm embrace of his family members who related with them in all the 91 days on the screen, but the many arms of thousands of ‘Josites’ are placed in readiness to receive their owner, the winner of the 2009 BBA Revolution.
