Noma crowned ‘Idols SA’ queen
First woman winner in seven years on a roll to record
NEWLY crowned Idols SA winner Noma Khumalo, the first woman in seven years to win the title, is expected to start recording her debut album this week.
Khumalo was crowned the 2016 Idols SA winner at a prestigious show at Carnival City in Johannesburg on Sunday evening.
Khumalo said she would work closely with Gallo Records’ songwriters as she embarks on her new journey as the Idols SA season 12 winner.
The last woman to win Idols SA was Sasha-Lee Davids, who was co-winner with Jason Hartman in 2009.
The 21-year-old Pietermaritzburg singer was up against fellow KwaZuluNatal singer Thami Shobede.
Of 14 million votes cast in the past week for the two singers, a difference of 50 000 votes made Khumalo the leading contestant.
A total of 83 million votes were cast throughout the season.
Speaking after the big announcement, Khumalo said she was “shocked” by the outcome and she had made an effort to stay positive throughout the stressful night.
Before the winner was announced, Khumalo and Shobede treated everyone to their last performances as contestants on the stage.
“Thami and I both knew we had equal chances of winning the competition. We motivated each other back in our change room, we fed off each other’s energy.”
After Khumalo was announced as the winner, she treated viewers and audiences to her single Want It to Feel Like It Did with You as confetti rained down.
She walked away with a prize package worth R1.2-million and a recording contract with Gallo Record Company.
Khumalo, who is also a substitute teacher, was encouraged by her pupils to enter the singing competition at the beginning of this year. “Even though I know they have seen the live show, I wish I could call the kids and share my excitement with them,” she said.
Throughout the season Khumalo kept surprising the judges and viewers with her singing abilities.
“I feel very honoured to be on this platform and I want to thank every South African for believing in me and voting for me,” she said, adding that she wanted to spend some time with her family “absorbing” what has just happened to her.
As the nation waits for Khumalo’s new music, aspiring singers can prepare themselves for season 13 of Idols SA auditions which will kick off in January next year.
At the moment, the producers of the show have not announced who will replace Gareth Cliff, who sat for the last time on the judges panel this past Sunday.
As expected, the Idols SA judges will visit only the bigger cities – Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban in the country. —