SHE’S GOT THE X FACTOR: Talent show judges with the winner of competition (From Left)DJ Fresh, Erica Da Silva Mpho Osei Tutu and Thuso Mbedu Photo: Nokuthula Manyathi
Idols season nine started last month and it seems everybody has caught the bug, even Witsies. Royal Mndani’s Dining Hall on West campus hosted the Convocation Talent Show, this past Saturday.
Singers, poets and dancers came prepared to battle it out for the grand prize of R1 500 and the all important bragging rights. On the judging panel was DJ Fresh, Thuso Mbedu and Mpho Osei Tutu had the difficult task of crowning the sole winner.
The students are super talented
Mbasa Tsetsana, chief organiser of the event, said he was overwhelmed by the talent and the number of people who arrived to watch the show. “The students are super talented and really good. I am just so impressed by the great turn out today,” he said.
The talent show had more than a dozen performers who fought through nerves to be crowned victorious. Ongie Gusha, 2nd year Media and Anthropology, walked off the stage after she fumbled the lyrics to her song, but was encouraged by the audience to carry on singing. [pullquote align=”right”]I think I sucked because I forgot my lyrics[/pullquote]
“I think I sucked because I forgot my lyrics. But I am happy that the audience encouraged me to carry on,” she said.
Hip hop dancing duo “Genie and Walle” entertained the crowd with performance that included classic Michael Jackson dance moves such the moon walk and the crotch thrust. Zewande Bhengu, 4th year BADA, slowed the festivities down with a poem he dedicated to his loved ones that had lost their battle with HIV. “She was my muse, my mentor, my dream,” said a captivating Bhengu in the final stanza of his poem.
And the winner is…
After 40 minutes of deliberation, the judges announced Erica Da Silva as the winner. Da Silva, honours forensic entomology student, sang an original composition called ‘I will rise’. Her win came as no surprise as she was the clear fan favourite receiving a standing ovation after her performance.
[pullquote]Whore yourself because no one else can[/pullquote] Da Silva who has been singing since she was three-years-old, predicted her win before the results were announced. “I think I will win,” she said during the results interval.Some Fresh advice
During the prize giving ceremony, DJ Fresh encouraged students to nurture their talents and to pursue their passion. “Find your talent, nurture it and see if you can get paid for it,” he said.
DJ Fresh encouraged students to network while in university and to also use the internet to market themselves. “Whore yourself because no one else can,” he said
