Fashioning Modern Africanism

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  

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,

Lastnight, IdolsSA was intense with the contestants  starting to  show their versatility and hunger to win it as they performed under the theme ‘lockdown hits’. It's some of the contestants song choice for me that will fail them. Song choice plays a key part at this stage of the competition. Mzansi want to see versatility and be blown away. Only a few of the contestants managed to pull flammable performances that will earn them the viewers votes.  Jooma, the first to be named as part of the top 9, was first to perform, singing Loyiso’s  ‘Madoda  Sabelani’.  While Unathi Nkayi merely thanked him on behalf of the women of South Africa, Randall Abrahams advised him to “change it up” for more variety even as he commended him, calling him a good vocalist. Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung praised the performance, saying it was enough to take him to the finals and beyond. Bongi was next with  ‘Stand Up’  by Cynthia Erivo. Unathi said it was a beautiful performance, while Somizi said her performance