Kalungi Kabuye
3 July 2008
Kampala — SHALL we all hear it for Nicolette Kiige, the best singer remaining in Idols East Africa? But unfortunately, the winning votes may not be based on one's ability to sing. How else can one explain the phenomenon that was Cynthia? And Africa's fascination with 'stone-in-the-mouth' Eric?
Last Sunday's performances were a disappointment. Judge Richard Kawesa was correct when he observed that the contestants had stopped improving; they are not competing against each other because they feel that the winner will probably not be determined by singing the best.
Africa's sickness, the continuing insistence on buying hype over substance, has turned what started out as a good show into routine.
Zimbabwe's Mkhululi Bhebhe is the latest to bow out of the Top 10, in spite of his being one of the top performers. But all the contestants did not impress the judges, the way they performed songs by African artistes.
Like Kawesa said, there was no Africanness in the performances: "I did not feel the African passion really coming out."
But our girl Nicolette, 19, is still hanging in there, although she is the least experienced of the lot. All the others have been performers before.
Now we have one Ugandan, one Zambian and three Zimbabweans.
The Top 5 Spectacular show will be on M-Net on Sunday at 6:00pm, with a repeat on DStv's Africa Magic at 8:00pm.
The results show will be on Monday 7:30pm on M-Net, with a repeat at 8:30pm on Africa Magic.
Voting starts on Sunday at 7:00pm and ends on Monday at 11:00am. Make sure to SMS the word Nicolette to 6626, any network.
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