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SA Idols: politics and the race card

Written by makisto from the blog Frankly Speaking on 19 Sep 2012
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For the past 7 years, SA Idols has caused a racial uproar each time after finale results. Yes, that is because no black person has ever been crowned an Idol in South Africa.

Khaya Mthethwa

As the Top 3 sharpen their vocal chords for the penultimate showdown, politics of the show and its racial controversy cannot be ignored.

The top three of the ever-so-popular SA Idols consist of two black guys and one coloured lady and they are Melissa, Monde and the allegedly automatic 2012 Idol winner Khaya Mthethwa.

Khaya Large final

Politics aside, Khaya is talented and all that. However, a blogger on news24 wrote an article about how Khaya didn’t audition together with the rest of KZN stating that when he auditioned, there was no-one in the queue and in the waiting room it was just Khaya and Khaya alone. And fast forward Khaya is in the top 3 now. The news24 blogger alleged that Khaya was asked to audition allegedly because the producers saw him as someone who can put all the racial noise to rest. Essentially, as much as they fired Mara Louw for crying out a racial cry, they knew she made some sense.

This year, no white person is in the top 3 and even the top 10 was very clear in that, since blacks were the majority. “Blacks are the majority in South Africa,” you say. Yeah right!

tshidi

This thing of saying Tshidi didn’t get enough votes is somehow unbelievable and the noise about her “don’t jump on me” is just crap. I saw that on Sunday and I quickly dismissed it and forgave her as it was perhaps a slip of the tongue. No one can claim not have ever had such, ever! Yes, I am basically saying Monde shouldn’t be in the top 3 and Tshidi should.

This year, the battle is between the blacks and the coloureds. As much as I also want a black Idol this year, I feel the show didn’t do justice to the demographics of this country if it is true that they do cook the results. Yes, I am saying I do not believe the Idols votes. Why is it that the results are not audited? To ensure there is no white person in the top what what? To ensure 2012 sees M-Net producing a black Idol?

KM

The show has kept mum on allegations that that the judges’ “save” was especially reserved for their favourite in case his space in the top 2 is in jeopardy. And yes, you guessed it right, next week the other black guy will be sent packing!

In the midst of all this, I am asking myself: Do white people still vote seeing that there was no white person in the top what what? Do people base their votes on race or talent and consistency? When I was interviewed by Cape Talk 507 last year about the racial controversy marring the show, I stated that whites needed to liberate themselves and vote for deserving black talent and asserted that blacks should stop being stingy and vote for deserving talent. Whether indeed whites have liberated themselves and whether blacks are now voting in leaps and bounds, is a dissertation on its own.

melissa

In my interview at the radio station, I was asked why do blacks complain if they don’t win because they are able to forge sustainable careers in the industry despite them not being winners. I put it to the show host that no feeling compares to the crowning moment and that 10 years down the line, this country cannot afford to look down the memory lane and see no black winner in there. It is just simply not on.

Personally, I believe Tshidi’s Sunday performance was just as good as Melissa’s. Like Tazteeq says:Unfair, Unexpected & Unbelievable exit for Tshidi .

monde

I also want to mention that I agreed with Judge Unathi when she said Melissa did a good job in getting the pronunciation of the lyrics rights. Kudos to her.

Also, I presume the show couldn’t afford less males in the top 3. We all know how y’all ladies like being serenaded by a male and y’alll probably don’t vote for girls but for a guy. I still don’t get the vibe around this issue!

Unathi

Will Khaya be the one to break the Idol curse on blacks?

Some argue in Khaya’s favour regarding him being an automatic winner: Why is it that when a black person is doing well, it is the blacks who will pull him down? I wish to put this to such people: When things are questionable, should we keep quiet just because we are black?...and yes, I am one of those who vote for Khaya week in and week out, even if I didn’t get the chance to watch.



42 Comments

Sslave
19 Sep 2012 10:55

Yey! TeamKhaya

Friend
19 Sep 2012 11:18

Away with Politics about Khaya,he is talented indeed,  all i can say is may the best Idol win, Team Monde lets vote & vote & vote. Who knows,  he might be pronounced the winner.

lolo25
19 Sep 2012 11:30

this is my first time im voting on idols, yes i'm black. ivote for the person who apeals to me and Khaya from day one was my favourite and i'll keep on voting for him. Teamkhaya doesn't care whos yepping we vote

lolo25
19 Sep 2012 11:53

Khaya is loved by most ppl and they are voting for him. so if you want melissa and monde to win vote for them. Teamkhaya is voting whayawhaya, NO REST REST UNTIL KHAYA IS CROWNED.

Evidence - Facebook Fan Page Likes

Idols SA - 61,798

Khaya's - 65,552 - do the Maths, no comparison EVEN IDOLS CAN'T BEAT HIM

Tshidi - 15,460

Melissa - 7,443

Monde - 4, 936

babygal
19 Sep 2012 12:24

i am not against khaya and i dont take anything away from him, he is good, loved his audition, hell i listened to him more than 10 times when they were showing golden tickets, even unathi said and i quote after kaya's audition, i 'think we have found our star', loved even the song he perfomed during the group stages, but after that others perfomed better than him,his fans just did not want to hear it. he is good but not that good compared to tshidi.. my opinion.

Fuluza
19 Sep 2012 12:32

Tshidi thought she is already a Diva please we do not need another Nohle so now she can be rest assured no one is going to jump on her in a long time

Nondu Hadz
19 Sep 2012 12:51

There is no rigging here. So please stop being haters hawu. #Team Khaya

babygal
19 Sep 2012 12:55

Pity tsidi said what she said, people act as if they have never said things they regreted afterwards.

JuneRose
19 Sep 2012 13:31

I still don't understand why people misunderstood Tshidi's plea

makisto
19 Sep 2012 13:33


Khaya's - 65,552 - do the Maths, no comparison EVEN IDOLS CAN'T BEAT HIM
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaa lol 10125 very true hey

Mense, no one is hating on Khaya, I think we all agree he is an automatic winner

True Taz, I think Tshidi's future in the industry is very secure.

tyma
19 Sep 2012 14:05

Ga gona #AUTOMATIC WINNER#mo, ke phetho ke tuuuuuuu!, the guy is a perfomer...

Mrs Chix
19 Sep 2012 14:17

Honestly I do not see anything wrong with what Tshidi said, pple choose to misunderstand her statement

Boni11
19 Sep 2012 14:29

Mina I really got scared and ashamed on her behalf when I heard those words coming from her mouth.

wonderlad
19 Sep 2012 14:33

Makisto you make some very valid arguments. Unfortunately people vote with their eyes more than their ears in terms of both race and sex appeal. That is why Melissa is still in the race. Unfortunately the impression that Tshidi is a diva has done her in (and she was my favourite). Ultimately the pop industry is about the total package as opposed to raw talent.

tyma
19 Sep 2012 14:40

thers nothing "POLITICAL"here unless u want my home boy JUJU to liberate and patriotate idols..... LKK

thers nothing wrong with wat Tshidi said, but something was wrong with her perfomances on sunday and that has cost her dearly...

4 the 1st time,South Africans are voting for talent and not for popularity...ppl are complaining that a black person hsnt won idols, but already thy complaining that Khaya was the automated winner, so what is it that my fellow black South Africans want.

any1 in the top three deserves to take it, evn Melissa cz shes got the pop wat wat which the competition is about.

so please stop sulking and vote, coz this moaning and negative attitude towards other contestants doesnt count, thats y team MONDE is gonna go far.AMEN!

Cande
19 Sep 2012 16:34

Makgoa are voting for Melissa Maki, and thats how she is still there. I dont believe that she deserves to be there more than Monde. Err, the judges's choice not to use their 'save' this season is also making me think hard

Belindavanaarle
19 Sep 2012 17:24

I think Tshidi is a little full of herself and I'm happy with the Melissa, Monde and Khaya....may the best person win!

Green.arrow
19 Sep 2012 19:41

Haai, talent competitions and their associated conspiracy theories. And reality shows as well. Its interesting though how much this theories about race and money and and and have been there since the inception of this concepts, and yet people still watch and participate in numbers!!.

Green.arrow
19 Sep 2012 19:55

Re: race issue though, an article on news24 pointed out the fact that what looks like racial voting could be voting influenced by taste and preferance. Truth is black and white we mostly don't prefer the same music. When I used to stalk cover performers on youtube, I noticed most white people hated when cover singers sang originaly rock and pop songs with soul and rnb influence, whereas black people actualy prefered the rnb-fied cover version. Most white people who commented on "One love" by mary j blige and U2, hated what mary J blige did to the song, whereas MJB made the song more consumable by the black audience. *wipes sweat of forehead for all that black white reference....its bloody draining*. There may be people in both races/cultures who have crossover taste in music (I do), but mostly, we prefer different sounds. I don't think the previous white winners on SAidols wom because of white conspiracy against black contestants, but because mostly whites voted and they voted for those whose sound they prefered which happens to be....rock/pop over rnb and afropop. If it was a race thing, white people would not be attending the live shows tsa idols this year because it was dominated by black faces from the word go, plus the rumour that a black person was tipped to win. Instead I believe inspite of the representation, they voted still for those whose sound they prefered, eg...the way Monde performed "one love", probably appealed to more whites than blacks, he delievered the song with that original calm and pop feel, as opposed to the 'soul' rnb delivery that Tshidi delieverd "imagine" with, I suspect many hated it. #My two cents.

Green.arrow
19 Sep 2012 20:06

If white people still vote more than black people, that is if black dstv ownership and twitter won't help the block voting situation this year, I have a feeling Monde or Mellisa will win. And I hope Monde wins so we can put to rest this racial issue because it would have squandered this racism conspiracy. At the moment, black people prefer Khaya for his rnb style....and find Monde boring, he has that calm style of singing, no vocal gymnastics, "doesn't take people to church!!", which works for few. If Monde wins, it won't be because of the majority black vote.

Virgolady
19 Sep 2012 22:43

Team Khaya all d way d dude is awesome

Winniefred
20 Sep 2012 08:41

Khaya is talented we get that yes, and we love him. Mara sometimes he disappoints mara coz he has so many fans y'all r just 2 blind 2 c dat coz use believe in him. Monde is really talented , he has proven that he can tackle any song and deliever it good mara coz randall doesn't love monde so does the rest of SA. Wat m basically trying 2 say is when we vote we shouldn't just vote for who we love but to the deserving. I voted for Monde this week and I'm happy he is in the top3 coz I was really impressed with both his performances. Vote for who made u proud.

Friend
20 Sep 2012 09:45

Monde is understimated by many, that's all. I'm stl voting for him.

Friend
20 Sep 2012 09:46

Monde is understimated by many, that's all. I'm stl voting for him.

cleve
20 Sep 2012 10:13

Team Monde, ok can we vote now or do we have to wait for Sunday?

bezu
20 Sep 2012 10:38

@cleve u have to wait for sunday fpr them to perform and then vote

zvee
20 Sep 2012 11:42

Thina @ home we voted $ Khaya frm the beginning coz we like him.. Ever since we heard him sing in the Joyous Celebration Group and liked what we heard so it was an absolute obvious that he will neva be wrong in our ears(his singing).. Em sure there are many families that we share the same sentiments about Khaya..

BTW did u guys notice what was organised in Durban for his home coming? It was way more than what other cities organised for their very own.. Yes, I'm disappointed tht Tshidi left bt truth b told even if she made it to the top 2 she wudnt hv made it coz Khaya can sing, arrange and compose music and he is already known thanks to Joyous and his singng in his church.

Khaya is good, HAYI KABI :) 

Nondu Hadz
20 Sep 2012 13:01

@zvee what was organised for Khaya at his homecoming?

sisila
20 Sep 2012 13:29

@zvee you are right I saw it and i must say it really mixed all races. all the others it was just school kids.

zvee
20 Sep 2012 13:45

@zvee what was organised for Khaya at his homecoming?
The top4 went back to their home towns, visited their former high schools, home area en radio stations(em not sure abt stations though). A certain radio station in Durban organised his homecoming en all the Durbanites were there. All races and it was huge i tell u.

Boni11
20 Sep 2012 14:39

ya I heard Khaya saying there were more than 10000 pleople there

sisila
20 Sep 2012 14:52

What touched me is what He said about his music teacher and the old lady was really touched. Team Khaya all the way vote vote vote and vote even more.

Bukho
20 Sep 2012 15:15

*Team Khaya all the way i just love him ....*

Monde 's voice is sotf and sweet man  ..but i'm voting for Khaya 

poshspice
20 Sep 2012 15:36

@GA "Re: race issue though, an article on news24 pointed out the fact that what looks like racial voting could be voting influenced by taste and preferance. Key words TASTE and PREFRENCE Spot on! Actually your whole essay above is spot on! It's how I've been viewing this all along... POOR WHITES! heh heh why must they be forced to vote for a black person? How they use their vote should be their democratic right! Let them vote for what appeals to them, just like some of you will never vote for a white Idol and prefer black Idol....if you vote for a white idol, cool, it's your choice, let them make their choice too Let's use the art of persuasion than forcing them or making them feel guilty for not voting black! Toya Delazy's music is huge in both black and white market, she just made good music that appeals to all races...didn't beg white to buy her music.

poshspice
20 Sep 2012 15:37

@GA "Re: race issue though, an article on news24 pointed out the fact that what looks like racial voting could be voting influenced by taste and preferance. Key words TASTE and PREFRENCE Spot on! Actually your whole essay above is spot on! It's how I've been viewing this all along... POOR WHITES! heh heh why must they be forced to vote for a black person? How they use their vote should be their democratic right! Let them vote for what appeals to them, just like some of you will never vote for a white Idol and prefer black Idol....if you vote for a white idol, cool, it's your choice, let them make their choice too Let's use the art of persuasion than forcing them or making them feel guilty for not voting black! Toya Delazy's music is huge in both black and white market, she just made good music that appeals to all races...didn't beg white to buy her music.

poshspice
20 Sep 2012 15:37

@GA "Re: race issue though, an article on news24 pointed out the fact that what looks like racial voting could be voting influenced by taste and preferance. Key words TASTE and PREFRENCE Spot on! Actually your whole essay above is spot on! It's how I've been viewing this all along... POOR WHITES! heh heh why must they be forced to vote for a black person? How they use their vote should be their democratic right! Let them vote for what appeals to them, just like some of you will never vote for a white Idol and prefer black Idol....if you vote for a white idol, cool, it's your choice, let them make their choice too Let's use the art of persuasion than forcing them or making them feel guilty for not voting black! Toya Delazy's music is huge in both black and white market, she just made good music that appeals to all races...didn't beg white to buy her music.

poshspice
20 Sep 2012 15:48

And to prove that the race card is a little bit overplayed here, Blacks do not even agree on black Idol contestants The black community is supporting different black contestants and we all give valid reasons for it......some support Khaya while others don't like him prefer Monde, others Tshidi....etc Some blacks do not like Mellisa or didn't like Dominic....are they racist?

poshspice
20 Sep 2012 15:48

And to prove that the race card is a little bit overplayed here, Blacks do not even agree on black Idol contestants The black community is supporting different black contestants and we all give valid reasons for it......some support Khaya while others don't like him prefer Monde, others Tshidi....etc Some blacks do not like Mellisa or didn't like Dominic....are they racist?

poshspice
20 Sep 2012 15:48

And to prove that the race card is a little bit overplayed here, Blacks do not even agree on black Idol contestants The black community is supporting different black contestants and we all give valid reasons for it......some support Khaya while others don't like him prefer Monde, others Tshidi....etc Some blacks do not like Mellisa or didn't like Dominic....are they racist?

Boni11
20 Sep 2012 15:52

lol, sowetan bloggers ne!

Mrs Chix
20 Sep 2012 16:15

LOL @ sowetan bloggers. I saw Tshidi yesterday on V entertainment. She jokingly said she will releasea new ingle called " Dont jump on me"

zam.ngcobo
23 Sep 2012 21:33

Khaya was d last person to audition in DBN ! So I don't know where they heard d ish of him auditioning alone .


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