1st Black SA Idols winner came a bit too late

Khaya Mthetwa

Everywhere I turned young black ladies are singing Khaya Mthethwa’s praises. Do not get me wrong I think the 25 year old is vastly talented and has a voice that demands acknowledgement. But why is this acknowledgement happening only now. This is the 8^th session of idols that the first black winner was chosen. When I posed these questions to my fellow black people, most of their views circulated around the fact that DSTV channel is not available to the majority of blacks in the country who happen to be poor. Another view point was that black people, when it comes to voting they do not react even if they love a particular artist.

Having watched idols throughout the latest session, my own observation took me to the selection criteria that were happening in front of my eyes as I watched television. Is this session choosing a lot of black candidates or is it my imagination I thought silently.is that fair to the other vocally talented racial candidates? To me it looked like this session pressure to produce a black winner was a much higher priority than selecting the best singer from any racial group. Is this Affirmative action on the entertainment stage I see taking place?

I am proud of Khaya Mthetwa’s achievements and I wish him nothing but the best. But the dark cloud that surrounds the talented winner diverts attention from me and other people with an analytical eye from celebrating with him the great achievement.do I dare call it an achievement. The words: winner by strategic default come to mind.

I believe the whole selection procedure would have been more nearer to the truth for once. I am not questioning the credibility of the Idols judges; I am simply reminding the reader that those judges have a specific mandate to deliver on each session of South African Idols. Congratulations Khaya Mthethwa for winning and being the 1^st black SA Idols winner.