Fashioning Modern Africanism

It’s official:   Idols SA   will be back for an impressive 18 th   season this year. Returning to the judges’ chair is fan favourite Somizi Mhlongo, and he will be joined by two new judges: the triple threat pop culture icon Thembi Seete and rapper-producer extraordinaire JR Bogopa. The award-winning, co-executive producer Tebogo 'ProVerb' Thekisho will return to host the music competition reality show for his 13 th  season.   Making a comeback to his seat as the most famous competition judge in the country, Somizi Mhlongo is a multitalented choreographer, reality TV star and actor whose  Idols SA  catchphrase ‘Whooo shem!’ is loved by many.   Known for his vibey energy, dramatic dress sense and honest critique as a judge, Mhlongo will dazzle our screens yet again as he ushers in a new era for the show and guides a new crop of talent.   An acclaimed actor, dancer and musician who has been part of South Africa’s pop culture fabric since the 1990s, Thembi Seete is known for her c

In the most brutal day of theatre week history, 66 Idols SA contestants saw their journey to stardom cut short on day one as the judges picked the best from the good. The open audition for season 17 had seen more than 100 Idols hopefuls make it to theatre week, but the jubilation was short-lived as the pressure took its toll on the contestants. Judges Randall Abrahams, Somizi Mhlongo and Unathi Nkayi made it clear that lukewarm performances were not going be tolerated. Day one of theatre week comprised of chorus line auditions accompanied by a pianist, with the Idols hopefuls divided according to the song they had selected. The audition songs included Kelly Khumalo’s  ‘Uthando’  and Amanda Black’s  ‘Separate’ . “Too many people forgot their lyrics and the arrangement of the song,” said Unathi, reflecting on day one of theatre week’s performances. Randall was equally disappointed. He said, “One song, that is all everyone had to learn and yet so many of them failed. If you fail at that,

Johannesburg, 6 August 2021: M-Net and Mr Somizi Mhlongo met to discuss his role on Idols SA in light of the allegations made against him by his estranged husband Mohale Motaung. According to then statement released today by The channel. They have reached a mutual agreement that Mr Mhlongo will take some time off to deal with his personal circumstances until this matter has been resolved.   Viewers will still see Mr Mhlongo on their screens until Sunday, 22 August 2021, as the audition shows for Idols SA were pre-recorded.  We've reached out to the channel's representative regarding Somizi's replacement but the answers were not given to us. The channel promised to announce the new judge who will be joining Unathi and Randal within the next 2 week.  Somizi posted a statement regarding the allegations on his instagram. See below

The fourth and final day of the judges auditions for season 17 of Idols SA brought with it another day of impressive auditions, peppered with a good dose of humour, tears and nerves.  This means 33 more auditionees from the final day join 75 others as they advance to theatre week, bringing the total number of golden tickets to 108. Joining Randall Abrahams, Unathi Nkayi and Somizi Mhlongo as a guest judge was Zwai Bala. The award-winning singer, producer and director started his day by heading to the piano to give his fellow judges an impromptu, albeit brief performance.   The real fun began with the first audition of the day. While 30-year-old Sizakele “Mr Siza” from Mthatha performed a rendition of Margaret Singana’s  ‘Mama Tembu’s Wedding’  to give judges an upbeat start to the day, his journey to fame ended before it could even start as he couldn’t clinch the coveted golden ticket to theatre week.   Read about tears of joy and balloons on stage as idols hopefuls audition for a spot

Day three of auditions for SA Idols season 17 brought yet another week of tears of joy and disappointment. In addition, there were plenty of laughs and birthday balloons on stage as the judges sifted the good from the bad, paving the way for dreams of stardom to come true. This week’s guest judge was one of South Africa’s greatest talents, Ringo Madlingozi. He took a day off from the world of politics and Parliament to help select the best singing talent South Africa has to offer. For Randall Abrahams, Somizi Mhlongo and Unathi Nkayi, the day brought with it some pleasant surprises as they – assisted by Ringo –  dished out 24 golden tickets. The day may have started with a no as 22-year-old Karabo Mogola from Pretoria failed to make the cut. However, there were plenty of golden tickets, with several Idols hopefuls managing to secure a full house of nods. Twenty-two-year-old Katiso “Kat” from Johannesburg rolled in with his roller skates and falsetto to clinch the first golden ticket of

Season 17 premiered on Sunday 11 July 2021 with guest judge Prince KayBee joining the Idols SA judges, Randall Abrahams, Somizi Mhlongo and Unathi Nkayi for the first judges’ auditions. The show’s host and co-executive producer, Proverb was also present to ensure that the contestants gave us feedback about their auditions.  Linathi was the first aspirant to take centre stage. Through her beautiful audition, the show was off to a great start. We got the first four yeses and first golden ticket of the judges' auditions.  Golden tickets were dished out, and more contestants marked a spot for themselves to attend Theatre Week.  After some positive auditions, things started to take a different turn.  It surely would not have been a complete show without Somgaga dishing out words from his personal and unique dictionary. He used unfamiliar words such a "phelled" or "bedanger" There was also 30-year-old Berry, who is a second time lucky contestant. She made it to the to

Zwai Legendary Kwaito artist, producer and musical director Zwai Bala and renowned singer, producer and Member of Parliament Ringo Madlingozi are among the guest judges as the popular talent search show   Idols SA   returns for its 17 th   season this Sunday. Ringo The much anticipated return of the IdolsSA, which attracted a record 15 000 online entrants, will heat up viewers’ living room this winter as  Idols SA  hopefuls belt it out to impress the guest judges as well as the show’s resident judges. Reality TV star, musician and choreographer Somizi Mhlongo, musician, radio and TV personalities Unathi Nkayi and Randall Abrahams, Rapper, radio and TV personality and the show’s co-executive producer Proverb also returns as the show’s host. Idols SA  will start with the airing of all online auditions on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) this Sunday, 11 July 2021 at 17:30. Somizi “We are excited that South Africa’s most-loved talent search show ,  Idols SA ,  returns this Sunday to enterta

Last week Somizi was sent media enquiries by City Press and Sunday World regarding stories that journalists were working on. Look bafwethu, It is well within our duty as reporter's to ask questions and to give the other party a chance to give their side of the story. But instead of responding to a request for comment, Somizi decided to respond by insulting the journalists. Not only that, he posted said questions on his social media platforms and published the contact numbers of the journalists. “So @city_press has become a tabloid ... ok ... two can play the game ... to stand a chance to win I don’t know what dial the number and let Julia know what it feels like to have yo privacy invaded unprovoked.” “I’m not the one to be bullied especially by media ... azishe ... I’ll make u just as famous...” said Somizi on a post which is now removed from his social media What followed was a barrage of calls to the City Press reporter from Somizi’s followers. The followers may not have meant t

Well, it may not be a real South African proverb, but renowned rapper and the show’s host Proverb will be back with his puns and witty lines when Idols SA returns for Season 16 of what promises to be “more than just a show”. The talent show will start with the airing of mass auditions on Sunday, 02 August 2020 at 17:30 – in time to take its place on the social media trends list. This year’s auditions were filmed before lockdown in March in four cities - Pretoria, Durban, Jo’burg and Cape Town. “As we turn 16, your living room will, from this Sunday, transform into front row seats of the biggest entertainment spectacle, enough to make you forget about your lockdown woes. This is because Idols SA is back and we are really excited about the show – from the wooden mic, right up to the live shows. This year’s Idols will be more than just a show,”  s ays Executive Producer and Director of SIC entertainment, Gavin Wratten. The return of Mzansi’s most loved talent search show comes after  Luyo

Idols SA’s  sixteenth season will be premiering on Mzansi Magic on Sunday, 2 August 2020, after being delayed due to the lockdown-enforced production break and interruptions to the audition process. The show took to social media on Wednesday, 15 July 2020, to make the announcement with a short clip of resident judge, Somizi Mhlongo, excitedly revealing the news. Idols SA  has since shared numerous behind-the-scenes visuals of host, ProVerb, recording voiceovers for the pre-production phase. Season 16 will see returning judges, Somizi Mhlongo, Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi, offering advice and guidance to the contestants throughout the competition. The upcoming season will feature numerous format changes, with many of the auditions being conducted online due to the lockdown restrictions. The production has yet to reveal the new format of the live shows, which will also be cognisant of the social distancing regulations.

Mama Mary Twala was the most-loved award-winning actress, who will be remembered for her roles on several productions, including  Sarafina! ,  Hlala Kwabafileyo  and  Yizo-Yizo,  among many others, passed away over the weekend. She was 80 years old. Rami Chuene to be Somizi’s first guest In the first episode of  Dinner at Somizi’s  on 1Magic, DStv channel 103, the irreverent entertainer hosts actress, singer and author  Rami Chuene  for a night of good food and honest conversations. The cooking-show-cum-talk-show premieres on Friday, 10 July 2020 at 19:00.   Viewers dive into the world of the charismatic Chuene as she opens up about the entertainment industry and its hard truths, her love life and her feisty social media presence. Don’t miss her on-cue impromptu acting with Somizi too.   In this first season of Dinner at Somizi’s, Somizi cooks up a mouth-watering storm and lays out his finest china for family and friends in a unique cooking show that sees culinary deftness meeting hear

The fabulous first episode of  Somizi and Mohale: The Union , South Africa’s first gay celebrity wedding special, is now streaming exclusively on Showmax. The episode captures  Somizi Mhlongo and Mohale Motaung’s  September 2019 traditional wedding in Kibler Park, Johannesburg, which merged their respective Zulu and Sotho cultures in a flamboyant celebration full of romance, gorgeous decor, dazzling chandelier cakes, G.H. Mumm champagne and multiple costume changes...  We see Somizi read a very profound and heart warming message Mohale sent to him in the morning after the traditional ceremony of exchanging gifts and acknowledging their ancestors, which was held at The Motaung's family home the previous evening. It was a very emotional morning for the couple, as it felt so surreal for Somizi that they has finally sealed the deal. "We must not forget the task God has given to us, our wedding is going to be historical in way that it will shake the whole continent