adminMelissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
While taking part in the Big Brother Africa (BBA) reality show has changed the lives of former housemates for the better, Maneta Mazanhi’s case is different as instead of being famous, she was unpopular. She, together with countryman Roki, were disqualified from the BBA game after being involved in a nasty fight which saw Maneta pouring disinfectant on Roki’s face. Sadly for Maneta, all the blame was put on her with people accusing her of having destroyed Roki’s future in the game as they believed he stood a great chance of winning. As a result, war was declared on Maneta and some people were after her blood threatening to throw eggs and beat her up upon her return to Zimbabwe. So serious was the hate for Maneta that BBA show organisers had to sneak her into the country from South Africa aboard an Emirates flight instead of the traditional South African airways.
She spent a few months in Zimbabwe in hiding and later relocated to South Africa for a sabbatical till people eventually forgot about her. She later hogged the limelight when her “friend” – businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who some claimed was her boyfriend posted pictures of him splashing her with gifts including a flashy vehicle.
However, Maneta may have been down but now is her time as she seems to be taking the showbiz industry by storm if the steamy video she featured in with Buffalo Souljah (real name Thabani Ndlovu) and her appearances in top South African soapie – Isidingo are anything to go by.
She is now the talk on social networks after intimate pictures and teasers of Buffalo’s upcoming love song video – Soja Riripo were released and went viral on social networks early this week. In the video, Maneta was captured in intimate positions with Buffalo Souljah with the two kissing on a bed.
The video has raised eyebrows with some suggesting that the two may be dating but according to both of them, they are just friends.
“Buffalo and I are both out there in the jungle in South Africa trying to make it in the industry. We look out for each other like brother and sister. He asked me to feature on his video as his love interest and I did just that.
“We do kiss on the video but it’s nothing serious, it’s not x-rated,” said Maneta.
Buffalo concurred saying: “We have been friends for a while now and have always been planning to work together. Since she has been acting on Isidingo, I found it appropriate to rope her in,” Buffalo said.
Maneta who returned to South Africa yesterday, however, said she was not a video vixen and was not planning on featuring in anymore videos.
Asked about her silence, the former housemate said she took a sabbatical after the nasty BBA experience and bounced back two months ago.
“After BBA I was really thrown out of my game and took a sabbatical to find out what I really wanted in life. I then discovered I wanted to venture into acting and was fortunate to land acting roles in South Africa.
“I feel everything happens in life for a positive reason so I don’t regret what happened in the past. I was bitter but I took it all as a growing curve,” she said.
Maneta is on her way to her delayed stardom as she has already been part of three Nigerian movie productions which she will announce when they are complete. Her recent acting role is on Isidingo where she acts as a personal assistant at Sibeko Towers. She joined the cast two months ago.
Asked how it was working with the vivacious Maneta, Buffalo said it was awesome describing her as natural and professional.
The South Africa-based dancehall artiste said the steamy video which was shot in South Africa’s Sandton would likely be released at the end of next week. The video is off 23-track album Da Chosen One. The album includes hit track Ziyawa which features Emmy G of the Rands & Naira’s fame. Other artistes on the album include Cassper Nyovest, Brick n Lace and D’Banj’s brother – Kay Switch.
Buffalo who rose to fame in 2008 after releasing dancehall hit single Bubble Ya Bums which won two Channel O Music Video Awards has been at the centre of controversy of late with some claiming that he has joined Illuminati, especially after the release of the Basawine music video which features snakes.
He defended his video saying it was pure art.
“If I had joined Illuminati I would probably be driving a Bugatti. Basawine was just art and probably people read too much into it. I’m a child of God and I’m a believer,” he said.
The Basawine music video is taking him places as it has been nominated for the 2014 Channel O Music Video awards in the Ragga/Dancehall category.
Online Reporter