Clash Of The Choirs

At 32, Anele Mdoda is a powerhouse in the entertainment industry and she’s added spunk and pizazz as a judge on talent show Clash Of The Choirs (2013current). The radio DJ and new mom has an ear for what’s good and she’s not afraid to give a thumbs down. So what does Anele have to say?

What’s different about this season? The stakes got so high, so quickly. From the get-go, everyone has had the potential to win. I remember one person went out the same week that I said they’d make it through. It’s just that close. So what are you looking for in a winner? Personally, if I’m not entertained, then you’re out. It’s showbiz, so the quality of entertainment has to be there. We can all listen to choirs, but it’s the pure grit and cutting into the song that gets the prize at the end of the day. Any predictions on whose team will win? Talent isn’t enough. There has to be that fight and tenacity to keep going when they’re tired, homesick and feeling uninspired. How are you getting along with the celebrity judges? It’s a blessing and a curse because you have someone who wasn’t here last week judging a team’s performance based on what they did that day. It’s good to have a virgin eye, but we’ve [including other judge and gospel superstar Rebecca Malope] been there from the beginning, so we have a frame of reference to judge upon. And how has new host Lawrence Maleka changed the dynamics of the show? He’s fresh and funny and has elevated the season to new levels. I love Bonang [Matheba] and I was worried when she didn’t return to host this season, but I realise now that where she was professional and clinical, Lawrence is more comedic – and that works.