Goldie's death stirs memories

The sudden death of Nigerian singer, Goldie Harvey, 31, of Big Brother Africa Stargame (BBA) fame, appears to have shaken entertainment circles all over Africa.

Expressions of shock and disbelief have been the order of the day since the announcement was made last Thursday.

Goldie, real name Susan ‘Goldie’ Harvey, died at the Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos last Thursday after she complained of a severe headache at her Park View residence shortly after her return from the United States where she attended the Grammy Awards. 

She was taken to the Reddington, Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.

Goldie had a short but eventful music career but it was her participation in the BBA reality show last year that shot her onto the continental limelight.

In the Big Brother house, Goldie developed an intimate on-and-off relationship with housemate Prezzo from Kenya. The two were so close that their ‘love affair’ seems to have continued even after their eviction from the game.

On hearing about the death of his “sweetheart”, Prezzo is quoted to have said on his Facebook fan page wall “ I am so gutted! So gutted! So gutted!’ before jetting off to Nigeria the same day.

Prezzo is not the only person who is beyond shock. Last Friday, when Showbiz spoke to DKB, one of her three Ghanaian housemates at BBA Star Game, he said “I don’t believe it. I am seeing it on the Internet but I just don’t believe it because I don’t think she is dead. We were like brothers and sisters in the house and we are still brothers and sisters.”

On his part, Keita another housemate said he was very sad and shocked. “To be very frank, I am shocked and sad, very sad. I can’t believe it. Goldie and I were close. We stayed together for two months and it is just unbelievable to hear that she is dead,” he said.

Keita continued, “Valentine’s Day is a day when everyone is sharing love. It is such a pity that Goldie had to go on the day of love. Life is short and we must live each day like it is the last day.”

Goldie represented Nigeria at the Big Brother Star Game last year. Her latest work which she described as three ‘nwati’ singles from her forthcoming African Invasion album: Skibo, Miliki and Got To Have It are presently enjoying heavy rotations on radio and television stations across the continent.

Goldie is survived by her father, step-mother, brothers and sisters.

By Jayne Buckman-Owoo