Eight months ago the name Makosi probably meant something to very few people over here in the UK. But all that was to change in the summer of 2005 courtesy of the Channel 4 ratings winner, reality TV show, Big Brother. For those who don't know, the general concept of the show is to place a group of ill-matched individuals in a house where actions are closely scrutinised right around the clock by cameras in every known area of the groups living quarters. As fixated voyeurs, we are granted front room occupancy to all the housemates' insecurities and character flaws. Throughout the years the Big Brother show has degenerated from what was once a pretty intriguing social experiment to a breeding ground for young wannabes hoping to trade in their somewhat mundane hairdressing jobs in the home counties for the champagne and new-money lifestyle associated with pop stars, television personalities and soap-opera actors.

So this year when afro-donning Zimbabwean cardiac nurse, Makosi Musambasi walked into the house laying claims to African royalty, and a virginity which was allegedly still intact, the tabloid ink never ceased to flow. Makosi instantaneously caused a national stir with her onscreen antics including a phantom pregnancy, girl-on-girl petting and a champagne induced sex romp with her fellow housemate in a Jacuzzi. Now the mere mention of her name is enough to ignite a myriad of emotions including blind rage, empathy and confusion. And like her country's long standing president, Robert Mugabe, Makosi soon became the latest figure to be vilified and demonised by the public and tabloids alike in the UK.

Today arriving at an intimate restaurant/bar in West London in a whirl, it's not easy to see why controversy follows this self-assured 26 year old woman. The somewhat subdued restaurant is juxtaposed against her loud multi-coloured silk kaftan, as the few onlookers wonder who hides beneath the wraparound designer sunglasses and perfectly applied M.A.C make-up. Se7en catches up with the self-confessed 'drama queen' to discuss life after Big Brother, her relationship with that much talked about president and how it feels to be one of the most famous African women in modern Britain.

Se7en: Hello Makosi, thanks for talking to Se7en magazine. Can you tell us a bit about life before Big Brother?
Makosi: I was born and raised in Zimbabwe. My parents are not wealthy but comfortable so I can't really say I had to struggle. However, I did see struggling amongst relations and amongst communities, but with regards to my own upbringing, you couldn't ask for more. I wouldn't call school tough but if someone heard my story they'd probably think it was tough. I went to a boarding school and you had 5am wake-up calls, cold showers and caning. It would be called abuse today but caning became life, it wasn't hard. I was caned quite frequently, I think more or less every week. My parents were not bothered if I got caned, they didn't have much to say because they assumed it was for my own good.

Se7en: English is the official language of Zimbabwe but there are also many tribal dialects, do you speak any of them?
Makosi: I speak shona and I also speak Ndebele. My dad is shona and my mum is Ndebele so I have to speak both. At home we speak English because neither of my parents speak each other's language. At boarding school it was English and shona taught depending on what the teacher felt like.

Se7en: Before Big Brother we understand you were a cardiac nurse. What prompted you to travel to the UK to pursue a career in this country?
Makosi: It's a lot easier to travel to the UK because we are a former colony, so most of the nurses in Zimbabwe choose to come and work over here. I like the UK, it's not bad. I think I'm a survivor, throw me in India I'll make it in India, throw me in Cambodia I'll make it over there too.

Se7en: What were your general impressions of the UK when you first arrived from Zimbabwe?
Makosi: I lived with my aunt and at first I found the whole place very claustrophobic because we've got plenty of space to roam back home. But I just got on with it and said to myself 'Makosi you can't afford to run around in the back garden' because there wasn't a back garden to run around in'. So I just did my college work and went to Uni and adapted really well. I loved university, I had lovely friends who took my pub crawling for the first time in and around Luton. Now when I go home I ask my friends what do you need all this space for. I think that's another reason why people from Africa have massive personalities. Because you've got so much space to speak as loud as you want. That's why sometimes at my nursing job they thought I was aggressive. I didn't actually realise that it can cause a discomfort in a claustrophobic society, where you're just used to people whispering because they don't need to shout.

Se7en: Were there any specific moments of culture shock which stuck out to you when you first arrived in the UK?
Makosi: Drinking in public, we don't do that at home. They arrest you for that. You are arrested for smoking too. I'm surprised that the women over here can go around not wearing anything, back home if you go around wearing short skirts they will stop you. It can be restrictive but in a way it's good to have restrictions because it grooms you.

Se7en: As an African coming to live in the UK did you have any preconceived ideas about what it would be like?
Makosi: I didn't think there was poverty over here. But my theory was more on a rational perspective where I thought okay, they (British) come to Africa and they want to help so they give aid. Or go to Afghanistan to help the government to run the country so they must be financially sound, but obviously that's not the case.

Se7en: So much negativity is written of your home country, in particular the alleged tyrannical rule of Robert Mugabe, widespread political corruption and white farmers being extradited from their land. What are your feelings towards the current situation?
Makosi: The honest truth is I am not a political person. I won't comment on policy but I can comment on society. The Society can be quite harsh. Especially with what I got up to in the (Big Brother) house. A lot of people were quite angry with me showing my t*ts. A lot of African women were very angry. I've read all kinds of harsh things on the internet; my parents also send me unfavourable articles from newspapers in Zimbabwe from time to time. I can't comment too much as you know politics is such a sensitive topic to be commenting on at the moment.

Se7en: What urged you to go on Big Brother?
Makosi: Initially it was all financial, my mum has a brain tumour and I intended to take part to fund my mum's operation and then go back to work. No one ever prepares you for what happens after Big Brother. I never expected that much publicity. I thought; I'm a Black girl in England why would they want to know about me? And when I came out and saw newspapers for 78 days featuring me, I was surprised. I thought where's the stuff about Maxwell, Anthony and all the other English contestants, why me?

Se7en: Was the level of publicity an ego boost?
Makosi: When I think of other people aspiring to be like me it, yes it raises my self esteem. But when you are in this industry and you see how the tabloids work I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. You're faced with explaining yourself and certain situations to friends and your family. I'm not saying it's terrible but it will make you or break you. At certain times I thought it would break me because it wasn't what I had bargained for. But then I thought to myself 'you know what, today's news is tomorrow's fish and chips newspaper'.

Se7en: Now you've had a few months to reflect on your time on Big Brother, what is it in your opinion that made the public react so negatively towards you?
Makosi: I don't know. I still don't know. You see the thing about reality TV is it's a reflection of things that happen in the real world. Therefore society has to accept that people get drunk and have sex in the pool. And someone will think they are pregnant after penetrative sex. I mean that happens in reality, and I don't understand why people got so upset.

Se7en: When you were in the Big Brother house it emerged that you were involved in a relationship with one of Robert Mugabe's cousins. Can we assume that you had first hand experience of Mugabe, not just the politician but a private family man, can you comment on this?
Makosi: I'd love to answer this but I can't. I might be able to speak on it one day.

Se7en: You recently made headlines with your plight against a deportation order, are you able to elaborate on the details of that?
Makosi: Well all I can say is my case is adjourned to the 17th of November, and hopefully I'm allowed to stay. That's all I can say about it at this point.

Se7en: What are your feelings on English attitudes towards immigrants, what has been your experience?
Makosi: I think immigrants are getting a rough deal because we don't have the same rights. You can't change jobs once you are employed by a certain organisation and that's why I'm in trouble. And obviously now I've learnt you can't go on recreational activities such as Big Brother unlike any other British citizen. I actually applied for a sabbatical but was refused one and told I wasn't entitled to it. Immigrants hardly get promoted and they work so hard because they don't want to lose their jobs. They work extra hours to please their bosses and they still get the raw end of the deal.

Se7en: A few BB detractors accused Big Brother of promoting racial tension this year. First there was the incident where your fellow housemate Saskia mocked your afro and then there were the alleged racial chants hurled at you on exit night. Has this changed your view of the UK, do you now feel it's a racially charged society?
Makosi: Before I think I was quite naïve and thought the colour of your skin is just the colour of your skin. But the night I came out of that house I was made fully aware that I am black. In the past people have often said about me that I think I'm white. Why, because I always used to defend and try to justify discrimination. But now I'm actually aware of these things and I've opened my mind. It's sad because at the end of the day the world has become global. You go to Zimbabwe and you find white people. People need to wake up and work towards the same goal, because if we don't kill ourselves in war then natural disasters will kill us. So no matter how much power one nation or one colour can have against the other nation. I think it's time we realised we are not in charge of this world. If America had their say in it, those hurricanes would be happening in Iraq, Africa or somewhere else. But because they don't have a choice they're being killed in thousands. People should stop playing God and realise that there is a God whom we all need to serve.

Se7en: So now the show has ended, what are your future plans?
Makosi: Well I'm going to wait for all the publicity to die down then I think I'll go into nurse advocacy, which is unheard of to most at the moment but someone needs to speak up for the profession. I'll definitely continue working in the health sector because believe it or not, I do miss waking up at 6.30am. Initially it was enjoyable waking up at midday but I'm an active person and I miss doing something worthwhile.

Copyright, Keysha Davis 2005