ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Paul

Moses Serugo & Robert Kalumba The audition in Zimbabwe offered some redemption to Idols East & Southern Africa especially for music purists that may have written off the show’s quest for a continental singing star. The 13 gold ticket recipients in Harare that made it to the next round were a welcome distraction from the international media frenzy about that country’s spiralling inflation and flawed election. Zimbabwe had more bankable and urbane talent that was far superior to the mostly karaoke singing wannabes in the other six audition venues. Take the Galloway sisters, Sheraine and Meeghan, who bowled the judges over with luminous performances of Alicia Keys’ No One and Tracy Chapman’s She’s Got Her Ticket. Nicolette Kiige blew the judges away with a powerful voice and great skill on the violin. The same cannot be said about Malawi, which had the worst turn up with contestant after contestant putting on an excruciating show. What is a hapless judge to do after a hopeful comes up and declares “I am going to sing a song by breackin spears [Britney Spears]?” Unfortunately, the judges’ musical criticism has still not gone beyond Scar saying, “No, you can’t sing, bounce”. The only musical term he and colleague TK Siyanda seem to know is “vibrato”, a word the judging duo turned into a cliché every time they wanted to reject a hopeful. Judge Angella mostly speaks about the contestants’ shoes and looks than their musical competence. When Scar’s putdowns became a little annoying for her to bear, she planted a kiss on his lips, something Scar had no qualms about. Those two would do best swapping spit than judging music hopefuls. Scar’s home country Botswana served up enough singing talent although the Gaborone audition – the final stop for the Idols search party – had its own logistical glitches. The Idols set went missing and there was drama when an effeminate Oriental man turned up to audition. Scar was as brutal in his hometown with his venomous remarks as he was elsewhere. From the Uganda auditions, nine contestants have been selected for the TOP 65 and they are Faycal Birikunzila, Brendah Anitah Asiimwe, Basoma Caroline Clarrissa Nabulime, Cynthia Kuto, Segawa Edris, Stella Amito, Tonny Okelo, Allan Kayanja and Dinah Buyinza Klokaari. A total of 65 gold tickets were handed out and the search for the next African singing sensation proceeds to Nairobi where 24 hopefuls will be chosen to compete for a Top 10 slot. You can catch Idols on M-Net (DStv101) Sundays at 6p.m. and Mondays at 7.30p.m., Africa Magic (DStv-107) on Sundays at 8p.m. and Mondays at 10p.m. and on UBC TV on Wednesdays at 10.30p.m.

Other Stories - 25/04/2008