Season 2
I Want to Sing Gospel is a South African reality television talent competition created and produced by Thokozani Nkosi and produced by Eclipse! in which singers compete for the chance to become "the next big gospel star", winning a substantial cash prize and a recording contract with Lindelani Mkhize Entertainment.
The series premiered on SABC2 on Sunday 3 August 2008, at 20h00. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 aired on SABC2 from 17 July to 9 October, 2011, on Sundays at 20h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 13 episodes in the second season.
Season 2
Lindelani Mkhize, the talent scout for I Want to Sing Gospel, has selected the Top 31 contestants for the second season of the gospel competition.
The aim of the competition is to give aspiring gospel musicians a platform to be the next gospel sensation in South Africa.
The first episode of the show covers the auditions from all of the five visited regions, with the second episode (24 July) revealing the selected Top 30 contestants.
The second season also boasts a fresh new look, supported by an increased production budget.
The auditions were held in five regions: Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Emalahleni, Durban and Johannesburg and Lidelani Mkhize, along with the guest judges, has been working around the clock, reviewing hundreds shortlisted auditions identifying 31 of the best auditioned contestants.
The show is once again presented by Thabo Mdluli, with the renowned music composer and singer Nqubeko Mbatha joining Lindelani Mkhize on the judges' seat. The two will be joined each week by guest judges from different broadcast and musical platforms.
After the Top 30 meet Lindelani again for the first time since the auditions, they are divided into five groups and given a task to rehearse and present to him.
Based on their performance, Lindelani will eliminate six from the Top 30.
Lindelani will continue to whittle down the contestants until Episode 5, when the public will start voting for the remaining contestants. Those with the least votes each week will be eliminated.
The winner this year receives R150,000 and a recording deal with Mkhize's record label, Lindelani Mkhize Entertainment.
About the Show
I Want to Sing Gospel is a reality competition series searching for the next big South African gospel star - a gospel star in the making but the world just doesn't know it yet.
The show holds auditions in different regions of the country whisks the best singers away for 13 grueling, trying weeks in Johannesburg, where they have to prove why they should be turned into a superstar.
The prodigious producer and creator of the SAMA-winning gospel group Joyous Celebration, Lindelani Mkhize, has the Midas touch when it comes to record sales - and it is he who sets forth a series of challenges for those hopefuls who'll be joining him and a panel of his most trusted confidantes to sort out the divas from the duds.
At the end of the 13 weeks, SABC2 viewers help Mkhize choose the one singer whose disk they would like to see on their CD racks.
The prize money for the show has changed over the years, starting out at R100,000 in Season 1, increasing to R150,000 in Season 2 and R200,000 in Season 3.
The show was hosted by Thabo Mdluli for the first two seasons, after which he was replaced for Season 3 by Salamina Mosese. Mkhize was the sole judge for Season 1, but in Season 2 he was joined by music composer and singer Nqubeko Mbatha on the judges' seat. The two were joined each week by guest judges from different broadcast and musical platforms.
In Season 3, Mkhize's role changed to talent scout and mentor, with three new judges being introduced: Sipho "The Big Fish" Makhabane, Ntokozo Mbambo and Tshepo Nzimande.
Winners
Season 1: Lungisani Ntuli
Season 2: Nhlakanipho Cele
Season 3: Nelisiwe Dlamini
Related Articles
The Search For A Gospel Star Is ON!
I Want To Sing Gospel Auditions (pics and video)
So You Want To Be A Gospel Star?
Back! I Want to Sing Gospel
Calling all gospel singers
Sing Gospel ups the ante for Season 2
All new panel for I Want To Sing Gospel 3
Seasons
Series exclusive to SABC2
Season 1 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 3 August 2008 | Finale: 26 October 2008 | Sundays, 20h00
Season 2 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 17 July 2011 | Finale: 9 October 2011 | Sundays, 20h00
Season 3 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 27 March 2014 | Finale: 19 June 2014 | Thursdays, 19h30