Lerato Matheka
MASERU — Telecommunications giant, Vodacom Lesotho, is injecting M1 million into next year’s Vodacom Superstar competition.
The competition seeks to unearth the next music superstar in Lesotho and is open to all Basotho around the country.
Vodacom Lesotho managing executive marketing, Tsabiso Letsola, told the media that they will also introduce dance as part of the competition.
“Next year we will hold the second Vodacom Superstar competition with a new element of dance,” Letsola said.
The M1 million will be split between the dance and music segments.
The music categories include gospel, kwaito, famo, hip hop and R’n’B while the dance sections will comprise modern dance, pantsula, ndlamo, mokhibo and mohobelo.
“All that we are doing is reaching out to all Basotho with talent and meet them half-way,” Letsoela said.
He said the competition is open to all Basotho of all ages.
“This is a life-changing opportunity for the future generation and we are merely just showcasing talent that Basotho have.
People are allowed to enter the competition as individuals or groups.”
Local jazz sensation Bhudaza and South African songstress Chomee have been named the 2012 Vodacom Superstar music and dance competition’s directors.
The winner of last year’s competition, Palesa Motlomelo, walked away M100 000 richer.
She also won a recording contract worth M50 000.
“We are initiating such type of projects with the aim of helping to change lives and hopefully to influence other stakeholders to join or meet us half-way with policies that will be rewarding in the long-term,” Letsola said.
He said other companies were welcome to take part and support next year’s competition.
He said Vodacom Lesotho had established a working relationship with Chomee so “she can be an ambassador of Lesotho’s talent in South Africa”.
“We want to get the competition broadcasted on radio and television both in Lesotho and South Africa and social networks like youtube.com so it can be easily accessible.”
Chomee said she was excited to have a chance to work on such a project.
“I feel like as young Africans we have lost ourselves and concentrate more on technology.
“But this project is going to get the youth ready to showcase their talent and their love for their culture because the competition entails traditional dances,” Chomee said.
“I find this competition a challenge for me because I am going to learn a lot while I am giving back to the community through my talents,” Chomee said.
“I am not a Mosotho but one does not have to belong to a certain culture to be able to identify good art. We are all Africans and have a way of intertwining in our traditional and cultural practices.”
The winner in both categories will receive M50 000 and a trophy, while the second-placed will get M20 000 and a certificate of appreciation.
The third-placed winner will get M10 000 cash with the runner-ups each getting
M5 000 cash.
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