Warning: This is an opinion of the blogger and some may or may not agree with what's written here. The blogger mantains that race is still an issue and that SA is still not colour-blind when it votes on Idols.
I don't watch Idols and have never watched the show except for this year when I find myself at a place where I can watch the talent competition in search of SA's next Idol. Essentially, I only watched the show twice when it was still scouting.
Is Sindi not talented and hard working enough to be SA's next Idol?
It is only this year that I religiously followed the show and can only do follow it in the media. Thus far, every article I have read talks about Sindi Nene's ernomous talent and every journalist use the 22-year old as their point of departure for their story. Why? Because it is clear that Sindi should win the competition but last week Sindi found herself lacking enough votes and the show's judges used their once in a season "save" to save Sindi from elimination. This means that on Tuesday 12 October, two contestants will be eliminated.
In yesterday's show, after Sindi sang Jeniffer Hudson's (Dream Girls) One Night Only and Beyonce's Single Ladies, she received a standing ovation from the judges and judge Gareth Cliff said: "This is the reason why we saved you. You were awesome" and judge Randall Abrahams, who is apparently hard to please, agreed with Gareth.
Despite her talent, some groups think she is just a bimbo
The lack of votes for Sindi in last week's episode confirmed two things.
1. In a talent competition, it's all about popularity and since M-Net, which broadcasts Idols, has 87% White viewers, White people will not vote for Sindi despite her talent. However, many Whites claim to be voting for her but why are we not seeing the proof in the pudding. After the judges saved her last week, I logged on my Facebook page and went saw a status update from a local magazine that said Sindi has been saved. Immediately white Facebookers started posting comments saying Sindi has got no talent and the lady said she's surprised that judges praise her after her hoggwash perfomance, and all this, written in Afrikaans. The magazine replied saying we shouldn't bring race into this but focus on talent, she then replied saying: "Ek is nie racist nie." Not all Whites who commented said Sindi didn't have talent but you could tell they were not voting for her.
Frank: Uyanda told Black people to start voting
2. Black people don't vote in talent shows. Once again, we are reminded of socialite Uyanda Mbuli's comments when she was voted off Strictly Come Dancing 2 saying "Black people must vote" and a race row started. Black people always talk about the legacy of apartheid and the argument can only be valid to a certain extent. I also am still suffering from the legacy of apartheid since I don't have DSTV but that doesn't mean I shouldn't vote for Sindi. As of last week, I went out of my way to find voting details and have started voting.
The Times newspaper earlier on in this season, ran an article about how White people vote on Mxit, landline and on two cell phones spending over R200 on their bills and the whole family votes. Esseentially, they use all platforms available to vote.
If you don't vote, tomorrow she will no longer be on Idols
Right now, it seems, for Sindi to win this talent search, the whole Black nation of SA must vote and vote for Sindi. It's time for transformation and Sindi must be the next Idol and probably the very first Black Idol.
Mara Louw has been criticised in the media by bringing race into the picture but the truth of the matter is, race has got everything to do with this competition. After last week's show, a friend of mine wrote on his Facebook page: "Tjeeer, this racist M-Net channel and Idols! Where is my R200.00? I going to give Sindi all the votes she can get". There is a lesson to be learnt there. Why don't we all Black people vote for Sindi because we know talent she's got.
M-Net edits out Mara Louw's comments on race about the show
Writing in the Sunday Times's Lifestyle magazine yesterday, exucutive producer of shows like Tshisa, Charl Blignaut, said, Only in South Africa, can race dominate a talent show. M-Net also edits out Mara Louw's comments about race after filming.
Transformation has got everything to do with race and where people are competent, we need to give them what they deserve and if it means buying R5.00 airtime to vote Sindi, South Africa, why don't you do that? I have noted with great concern that the entertainment industry is still lacking when it comes to transformation equitties especially where voting involves money because most Black people are stinch.
FHM's last Black cover was back in July 2008
FHM magazine always has white women on their cover, the last time they had a black model on their cover was in July 2008 when Joelle Kayembe was their cover star. Men's Health magazine always has white men on the cover. The last Black cover model was Jammie Fox in 2008.
Joelle Kayembe told FHM in 2008 that she will be pleased if she can occupy the no 1 spot on their annual 100 sexiest women in the world because she would be the first black woman to reach that spot. Though I have been casting my vote and including Joelle in every vote, I also vote for other white models, still Joelle doesn't take the number 1 spot. As for the GQ magazine, they have opted for splitting their mag specifically for Whites and Blacks by having different cover stars but same content. I'm still waiting to see White characters in Generations. Heat Magazine just surprised me today by having a Black person, Mara Louw on their cover as their lead cover feature and just because she is Black, I bought the tabloid magazine for the first time in 11 months.
Despite being an African chocolate, Joelle still doesn't get the number 1 spot on the annual FHM Sexiest women in the world in the mag's every June issue.
Back to Idols, if Sindi Nene survives tomorrow, it would be because Black peoplehave noticed that Sindi does need those votes from Black folks.
To vote for Sindi, SMS 3 to 37400 (R1.50 per SMS. VAS rates apply. No free minutes) or call 0839010203 and your vote will automatically be counted for Sindi. To see how to vote for other contestants, please go to
http://mnet.dstv.com/idols/News/495/how-to-vote Transformation transformation transformation transformation transformation. We need a Black Idol.