Lerato Matheka
MASERU — Scores of budding musicians and dancers gathered at Ster-Kinekor at Pioneer Mall on Friday to audition for the M1 million Vodacom Superstar Music and Dance competition.
The two-day auditions will give talented Basotho a chance to make a big break into the music industry.
Vodacom Lesotho marketing coordinator, Sekonyela Matamane, said the company had carried out similar auditions across the country over the past four weeks.
“It has been phenomenal throughout these four weeks. We covered three districts per weekend and this is the last weekend where we are only covering Maseru,” Matamane said.
He said Vodacom Lesotho is expecting a larger turnout in Maseru.
Matamane said only five people will be shortlisted in each of the 10 categories that include music and dance.
“The competition is split under music and dance with each category having five sub-categories,” he said.
The music category includes gospel, kwaito, famo, hip hop and R’nB while dance include modern dance, pantsula, ndlamo, mokhibo and mohobelo.
A panel of judges will short-list the top five in all the categories.
The winner will walk away M50 000 richer. The winner will also get a floating trophy.
The first runner-up will receive M20 000 and a certificate of appreciation with the third-placed winner also walking away with M10 000 in cash.
Matamane said unlike in the past year there had been a huge response in all music categories.
“It was interesting to see people’s interpretations of their understanding of the genres and unlike last year where the gospel genre was dominant, this year all genres are represented,” he said.
The panel of judges includes radio personality Tello ‘Dallas T’ Leballo, music producer Tlali Mapetla, choreographer Mantja Seqhobane, Teboho Rantsoabe, Liatile Mohanoa and Motsoeli Motsoeli.
The Disciples, a gospel music group which failed to make it into the top five last year, said nothing short of a win will satisfy them this year.
A spokesman for the group, Atrax, said: “We missed qualifyng by a few votes last year and that gave us the energy to return and try our luck again this year.”
He said they had decided to compete again because they felt they were very close to making it into the top five last year.
“We hope to make it through to the next round. We are going to hold shows outside Maseru to increase our chances of people voting for us and at the same time building a fan base,” Atrax said.
Tshokolo Khoza, from Lithabaneng, said he was going to audition for the Mohobelo category as a solo dancer.
“I don’t think I need a group to dance so I am going to wow the judges with my solo choreography,” he said.
Mookho Moqhali said he was nervous but excited at the same time.
“I was told to return for the second round and work on my basics. If ever I make it through and maybe win, I am going to quit my job. I believe singing is my calling and not being a legal adviser.
“I love singing for the Lord and touching people’s souls through gospel music,” Moqhali said.