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Botswana: Tears And Laughter As Idol Wannabes Are 'Culled'
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
31 March 2008
Posted to the web 31 March 2008
By Gasebalwe Seretse
Hundreds of hopefuls thronged the Grand Palm to audition for the popular M-Net programme Idols, last Friday. Idols is a talent search competition that sees the winning contestant garnering thousands of Pula and an international recording contract.
As the hour of reckoning neared, the Idol wannabes learnt that fame and fortune do not come easily as they were made to queue for hours on end. As if that were not enough, they were instructed to stage a scene where they mobbed the local hip-hop star Thato 'Scar' Matlhabaphiri, which some felt was just a publicity stunt. Later, the hopefuls went through what is called the 'culling' system that saw a huge number of them falling off. Showtime managed to chat to a few of the contestants.
Among the hopefuls was Joseph Dipatane of Gaborone West, who was the first person to arrive for the auditions. The 22-year-old Dipatane said that he arrived at the Grand Palm at about 3 am since he had been anxious to be part of Idols and could not sleep.
"I have what it takes to make me a star and I just need the platform that Idols has availed to make it in the music industry," gushed the singer before going to audition.
The stylish youth informed Showtime that he was going to perform Westlife's Rise and he was lucky to qualify for the next round.
The 21-year-old Dineo Tshikare of Tlokweng, who is also a member of the Apostolic Faith Mission, performed the song How Do I Breath Without You whose original singer she could not remember. Tshikare said that she woke up at 6 am to get ready for the event and arrived at the Grand Palm at 8 am.
Long distance did not hamper 20-year-old Lucky Robert of Selebi-Phikwe from coming to the capital city to try her luck. The confident Robert who admitted being nervous performed Mariah Carey's I Can't Live Without You.
"I am ready for whatever comes my way", said another confident Idol wannabe, 21-year-old Odirile Meshack from Phase II, Gaborone.
Meshack who was dressed to the nines said he was going to sing Westlife's You Raised Me Up. He further said that he came for the auditions because he believed that he would make it to the next round.
Dintle Bogatsu from Tlokweng, who learnt about the auditions from a friend, said that she was the third person to arrive for the auditions. She sang The Fugees' Killing Me Softly. Like most contestants, Bogatsu oozed confidence although she admitted being 'excited and nervous at the same time'. However, unlike the other early bird Dipatane, Bogatsu did not make it through to the next round.
After the audition she was on the phone talking to her mother, "Mama I didn't make it."
Another hopeful whose dream of becoming the next idol was dashed was Thandiwe Musowoya who could not contain her disappointment. Her equally disappointed friends Jack Edwards and Peter Montoa who also failed to impress the judges comforted the sobbing Musowaya.
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The three friends complained that the system was not fair since one person judged each contestant. Some of the Idol wannabes, that managed to make it to the next round, include Mpho Mokalake, Shinkie Seikise Keitlhokile and Tebogo Gaetsewe.
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