Fashioning Modern Africanism

Amapiano hitmakers, a top 10 reunion and brand new solo singles: tonight’s  Idols SA  show was the most spectacular yet, with the top 2 for season 18 being announced as Nozi and Thapelo. Sadly, it was the end of the  Idols SA  road for Mpilo. Alongside the  Idols SA  season 18 crown, next week the winner will walk away with an impressive prize haul: just over R1-million cash, made up of R350,000 in a Standard Bank MyMo account (sponsored by Old Mutual), R300,000 from Spotify and R350,000 from Mzansi Magic; access to a Standard Bank wealth manager; a Toyota Starlet; a fashion voucher from Truworths and their live show outfits, all to the value of R100,000; R85,000 worth of musical equipment from Yamaha; and a recording contract with Kalawa Jazmee Records.  Last night’s live show at the Heartfelt Arena in Tshwane opened with an electrifying performance from Musa Keys and Konke singing the amapiano hits  M’nike  and  Selema (Po Po) . Before the top 2 were announced, the then-top 3 debuted

With just two weeks to go before the   Idols SA   season 18 winner is crowned, and after last week’s top four enjoyed a coastal adventure in Cape Town, the show have reached the most anticipated stage of the competition yet: the top three.   Making the cut, after over 15 million viewer votes this week, are: Mpilo, Nozi and Thapelo, with Ty Loner’s road unfortunately coming to an end.   With a nuanced yet uplifting live show in front of a packed Heartfelt Arena in Tshwane, the finalists performed three songs each. To paraphrase host ProVerb, that was triple the music for viewers – but also triple the pressure for the singers.   For their first song, contestants performed the track they first auditioned with. The next round saw them performing classic diva hits, and the final songs were chosen by the judges.   Nozi kicked things off with Daniel Caesar and H.E.R.’s   Best Part . “It was like we were at your concert, and you sang it like Nozi would sing it,” said Somizi. Her next song was

As judge JR Bogopa said, it’s no longer about proving that they can sing – contestants must show that they have what it takes to win it all.  Making up the season 18 top 4 are: Mpilo, Nozi, Thapelo and Ty Loner. Sadly, it was time to say goodbye to Zee. Before they were announced in the top 4, the five contestants kicked things off with a group performance, re-imagining PJ Morton’s  How Deep Is Your Love  in front of an enthusiastic full house at Tshwane’s Heartfelt Arena. This was followed by an electrifying guest performance from De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef and Sino Msolo with the amapiano megahit  Jola .  Mpilo was first to perform, taking on  Khusela  by Kabza De Small and Msaki.  Thembi Seete said: “I admire the discipline and control you have with your vocals. It was a very hard song, but you held it down.” Mpilo’s next song, later in the show, was  Jealous  by Labrinth, under the theme ‘How it should have been done’ – contestants taking on Wooden Mic performances and giving them

After a dramatic showstopper episode last week, tonight’s   Idols SA   saw season 18 contestants share their truest selves as they sang songs that inspired them, followed by soaring collaborations with MTN Joyous Celebration. With over 8.5 million viewer votes this week, the top 6 are Mpilo, Noxolo, Nozi, Thapelo, Ty Loner, and Zee. Sadly, it was the end of the road for Kabelo. Joining the crowd was British boxing icon Chris Eubank, there to witness the best the contestants had to give the full house at Tshwane’s Heartfelt Arena. Opening the show was Zee, who performed Christina Aguilera’s  Hurt , and later,  Uzuliphathe Kahle  with Joyous. Commenting on the first performance, Somizi Mhlongo said: “You were flawless. Your lower register is insane – you sounded confident and mature.” Thembi Seete agreed: “You can do any song right now… The second performance injected life into us.”  JR Bogopa also had high praise for the 18-year-old: “You’re in your element. You’re growing to become the

Celeb cameos, special effects, pyrotechnics, motorbikes, vibrant choreography, and the country’s best singers giving it their all: the Showstopper Night of   Idols SA   took production and entertainment value to new heights.   Making it to the season 18 top 7 – after over 8.5 million viewer votes this week – were: Kabelo, Mpilo, Noxolo, Nozi, Thapelo, Ty Loner, and Zee. Going home was CeeJay.   The audience in Tshwane’s Heartfelt Arena and viewers at home were entertained by an opening group performance of Beyonceì’s  Get Me Bodied , a special appearance from Mpho Popps and guest performance by Robot Boii.   First to perform was Kabelo, whose rendition of Usher’s  Yeah!  was met with a mixed response from the judges. Somizi Mhlongo said: “You were completely out of your comfort zone, but you gave it your all. I would give you ‘A’ for effort.”   Thembi Seete said: “Thank you for introducing us to the happy Kabelo”, while JR Bogopa wasn’t impressed: “You were off-key and flat in most asp

Tapping into music their parents grew up listening to, the  Idols SA  season 18 top 8 took us on a dazzling trip down memory lane with some of the world’s greatest hits from artists such as The Beatles, Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey.    With over 7 million votes this week, Mzansi decided that their top 8 was: Nozi, CeeJay, Zee, Kabelo, Ty Loner, Thapelo, Mpilo and Noxolo. Sadly, Tesmin-Robyn’s  Idols SA  journey came to an end.    The show started off with an electrifying group performance paying tribute to kwaito legends TKZee. The top 8 had the Heartfelt Arena on their feet with an upbeat medley of  Dlala Mapantsula, Phala Fala, Fiasco  and  Shibobo .    Amapiano sensation Pabi Cooper kept the momentum going with an energetic performance of  Banyana ke bafana  and  Waga Bietjie .    Starting off was Nozi, who delivered Roberta Flack’s  The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face  — this was her father’s high school crush.    Somizi Mhlongo, who gave Nozi a standing ovation, said: “There’s

With Heritage Month in full swing, last night’s   Idols SA   season 18 episode celebrated the incredible musical history of Mzansi – with contestants recreating Southern African   classics in the youth’s image. Icons such as Hugh Masekela, Thandiswa Mazwai, Caiphus Semenya and Brenda Fassie were honoured by the contestants who received enough votes to sing another day.   With over 7 million votes cast this week, the 9 who made it are: CeeJay, Kabelo, Mpilo, Noxolo, Nozi, Tesmin-Robyn, Thapelo, Ty Loner, and Zee. Sadly, Lerato’s   Idols SA   journey has come to an end.   The show started on an upbeat note, with Noxolo taking on Joe Mafela’s   Shebeleza   and turning it into a house-influenced banger. The judges loved it, with Somizi Mhlongo giving high praise: “Bra Joe is so proud wherever he is.”   “You are a natural. The power and control that you have on stage is amazing,” said Thembi Seete, with JR Bogopa adding: “This is how you open a show!”   Next was Kabelo, taking on Ringo’s