…discovering talent goes beyond listening to demos…
…aspiring singers will submit 60-second landscape videos…
…public input will help identify overlooked talent…
…selected singers will compete for the top three spots…
BY NELIWE NGUBANE
EZULWINI — The search for Eswatini’s next gospel voices is officially underway, with music icon Sipho “Big Fish” Makhabane calling on aspiring singers to step forward as the Eswatini Praise Talent Search opens its doors to undiscovered talent.
Speaking during the launch at Sibane Sami Hotel in Ezulwini, Makhabane, the driving force behind the project, said discovering talent goes beyond listening to a recorded demo, insisting that a trained eye can also identify potential by simply observing a performer.
“Discovering talent is not about listening to a demo. I have an eye that is good at discovering talent by looking,” said Makhabane.
He explained that the vision behind the talent search was inspired by the need for countries to actively promote their own creative industries and give local talent a platform to gain recognition.
Makhabane said he first presented his vision to Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture CEO Stanley Dlamini, who welcomed and supported the idea. He later approached Eswatini TV CEO Mlamuli Dlamini, who also embraced the project and invited him to present it to his team.
Recounting the presentation, Makhabane humorously shared that he even wore a suit for the occasion, despite admitting that he is “not a suit” person, because he wanted to make the right impression.
The talent search will also move from the audition stage to the living rooms of the nation, with Eswatini TV set to broadcast the programme from September to December, between 7pm and 8pm. This will give viewers an opportunity to follow the journey as hidden voices are discovered, assessed and developed.
Aspiring participants will enter by recording a 60-second video of themselves singing in landscape mode and submitting it through details that will be provided by the organisers. Entrants will also be required to tag the Eswatini Praise Talent Search page.
Following the digital submissions, the team will identify promising voices before narrowing the search down to the top three.
However, Makhabane said the search will not end with those who make the cut. The organisers plan to hear from the public about talented individuals who may have been overlooked. The team will then travel to their home areas, film them performing and, where necessary, bring selected contestants to town to compete alongside those already chosen.
Makhabane also thanked Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla for creating an opportunity for the project to grow.
The initiative seeks to unite talent, technology, television and public participation in a nationwide hunt for Eswatini’s next standout gospel voices.
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