In an epic climax to the final season of Idols SA at Mosaïek Teatro this past Saturday, Thabo emerged as the undisputed victor, seizing the coveted title with a performance that highlighted his exceptional vocal talent and commanding stage presence.
The night marked big triumphs for Mpumalanga as the Top 2, Princess and Thabo, are both from the province. In the end, however, only one local would win the historic title of Mzansi’s last Idol.
Hailing from Witbank, the Idols SA winner honed his singing abilities in a church setting, where he mastered spirited riffs and soulful runs. Thanks to the dedication he had to his craft, Thabo began to consider the possibility of pursuing music as a professional career. When he found out that Idols SA would be coming to an end after 19 seasons of discovering talent, he gave it a go.
Thabo impressed the judges at his first audition. In particular, he earned the respect of JR – typically a tough cookie to crack. At the time, JR remarked that Thabo had what it takes to go the mile and urged him to take this journey seriously as a catalyst for his dream. Evidently, Thabo took this advice seriously, and used it to fuel his fired performances.
Throughout the competition, Thabo consistently delivered electrifying performances, seamlessly navigating various musical styles, and earning “woo shem’s” from judges and fans alike.
Princess, securing the position of the first runner-up, also left an indelible mark with her versatile and powerful vocals, contributing to an unforgettable final showdown. The fierce competition between Thabo and Princess kept viewers on the edge of their seats until the climactic announcement.
Thabo's ability to effortlessly adapt to diverse musical genres was a recurrent highlight, with memorable renditions of classics like Michael Jackson's 'The Way You Make Me Feel' and Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered’.
Each week, Thabo not only garnered standing ovations but also earned the sought-after “woo shem” approvals from judge Somizi.
Ultimately, it was Thabo's consistent high scores from both the judges and the voting public that secured his position as the last-ever Idols SA winner. The celebration of his victory was coupled with the debut of his studio single 'Islungu,' now available on digital music streaming platforms.
Thabo's parents, witnessing their son's historic triumph, added a poignant touch to the culmination of the final season, highlighting the profound impact Thabo's journey has left on the hearts of South Africans.
Idols SA aired 19 iconic seasons on South African television, starting on M-Net (channel 101) in 2002, and ending this year on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) and Mzansi Wethu (DStv channel 163).
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