(Viwe
Xekethwayo (centre) with the group, Next Level. Photo Val Adamson)
Durban’s Gospel Icon Discovery Competition,
an eThekwini Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit gospel music talent search
programme, is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year. Following extensive
preliminary rounds, the finale of the 5th Gospel Icon Discovery Competition
takes place at the Ohlange Sports Ground in Inanda near Durban on September 17
2017 from 08h30 till 15h30, and on October 1 at iNkosi Albert Luthuli Stadium,
where they will be doing an hour production of Gospel Icon Discovery.
Last year’s soloist winner, Sbongiseni
Zikhali, has recorded his full album which is now being promoted, and the first
group winner, Next Level, and Viwe Xeketwane, the children category winner, are
busy in the studio composing their own album.
The Gospel Icon Discovery Competition is
aimed at cultivating upcoming artists in the City, and helps them launch their
musical careers. The project is designed to produce future gospel music icons
while alleviating poverty. The competition not only creates memories, but also
has a positive impact on society, by developing people’s musical skills and
assisting participants in reaching their aspirations. Following extensive auditions, those artists
who have made it past the preliminary rounds are given the opportunity to
showcase their skills at the main event mentioned above, where the winners are
announced.
The talent scouting programme initiative,
which is the brainchild of the Head of Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit, Thembinkosi
Ngcobo, involves prominent local artists who assist developing upcoming
artists.
“We have seen a tremendous growth of
participation in the competition over the past five years,” says Ngcobo. “We
have been fielding entrants from eThekwini’s Coloured and Indian communities,
as well as seeing a growth in entries from Black gospel groups. The latter
include entries of traditional gospel communities from the more rural, outlying
areas of eThekwini. We are also attracting a lot of participation from ‘charismatic’
church gospel singers. This year was very responsive: we had more than 300
great gospel artists from eThekwini but unfortunately had to shortlist to 10
contestants for each category.
“The finalists have started rehearsals to
stage the finale and they all seem to be unique in their style of gospel. But
talent alone cannot sustain a career, and many promising new-entry artists fall
by the way side due to lack of know-how, discipline, or factors such as the
influence of drugs. For this reason, we have invited veterans from the music
industry, such as Pastor Mthunzi Namba of Joyous Celebration, to address our
finalists. They can impart skills with regard to managing their careers. We
have also asked them to try and broker relationships with record labels on
behalf of our finalists. Furthermore, we aim to expose our Gospel Icon
Discovery winners to an international audience by affording them a mainstage
platform during the upcoming Durban Essence Festival in October.”
The competition has three categories: the
‘Odwinkidwinki’ category caters for children under 12 years; the second
category including soloists and duets from 13 years and older; and the third
category, for groups of all ages. In each category, the winner is awarded a
cash prize. This year’s first prize winner goes away with R20,000 and a
recording deal, second place R15,000 and third R10,000 and a demo.
This year’s competition will be the most
spectacular in the history of the competition. It will also be part of the
Essence Festival: Durban where this past year’s winners will share a stage with
international gospel artists such as T D Jakes and local established groups
such as the Joyous Celebration.
Mentored by the event’s judges - Thina
Zungu, DJ Happy Gal, Gah Ndlela and Malusi Mbokazi - the winners become
ambassadors for the development programme through being invited to perform for
professional fees on influential platforms such as high-profile municipal and
government functions, among others events.
Admission to the Gospel Icon Discovery
Competition in Inanda is free and all are welcome to attend and show their
support for the competitors.
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