Entertainment News: Idols SA sets a new record

It was hard to tell which way the votes would
swing at this year’s Idols SA finale that happened last night at Carnival City, Johannesburg. The last standing contestants Karabo
Mogane (24) and Mmatema Moremi (23) both gave impressive performances
throughout the season, but South African audiences decided Mogane was worthy of winning the singing competition. He received most of the public votes and according to Idols, this season made history
with a grand total of 78.8 million votes, surpassing
last season’s previous record of 24.3 million. First time Idols judge, Somizi Mhlongo said he
wished it were a tie because both Mogane and Moremi were equally deserving of
the win.

Jazz and
afro-pop singer Judith Sephuma took to the stage to perform a duet with Mogane
of
I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) by Aretha Franklin and George Michael, while Moremi
was joined on stage by singer J Something to perform Marvin Gaye and Tammi
Terrell’s 1968 hit song,
Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing.

Ooooh my Mmatema what a perfomance with J something, we are definately winning this one
#IdolsSA

— #MofayaLifeStyle (@iamMrKhandacool)
November 22, 2015

Another highlight
of the finale was Mhlongo’s dance performance to DJ Black Coffee’s
We Dance
Again
featuring South African Music award-winner Nakhane Toure, who
unfortunately looked like a backup singer, while Mhlongo took center
stage.

The real talent of Nakhane Toure having to play second fiddle to the outrageous theatrics of the blond weave wu-shem #IdolsSA #IdolsSAfinale

— Pitso Tsibolane (@pitsotsibs) November 22, 2015

The eight eliminated contestants also joined Moremi and Mogane in some
group performances that consisted mostly of songs by international singers.

Class idols moments: 1.
Mmatema’s response to hearing Karabo’s name 2. Nadia congratulating wrong person. #IdolsSA pic.twitter.com/r0I7SuIEaI

— Timothy Maurice (@timothymaurice) November 23, 2015

Mogane walks away with a recording contract from
Universal Music South Africa, R700 000 cash from M-Net,
Mzansi Magic and Telkom SA, a R225 900 Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost Titanium, fashion
to the value of R100 000 from Truworths and R70 000 worth of musical equipment from
Yamaha, among other prizes.

His studio album is set
for release before Christmas time.

South African shows to compete at the Emmys

Puppet Nation ZA, Miners Shot Down and MasterChef SA are among the nominees at the International Emmy Awards taking place in New York City this evening. Rehad Desai’s film on the Marikana Massacre, Miners Shot Down, is competing for Best Documentary, Puppet Nation ZA is competing for Best Comedy while MasterChef SA will compete for Best Non-scripted Entertainment Series.
According to
Eyewitness News, the judges for the international awards are selected from all over the world, including South Africa.
South African judges were involved in judging the best performance by an actor and TV movie mini-series categories. Urban Brew Studios’s drama director Herbert
Hadebe has also been selected as an International Emmy Awards juror for the Best
Performance by an Actor in a TV drama.

Nicki Minaj wins best rap artist at the AMAs

Nicki Minaj. (Reuters)

Hip hop artist Nicki Minaj’s fans have crowned her their favourite
rap artist for 2015 at the American Music Awards that took place on November
22 in Los Angeles. Minaj (born Onika Maraj) also walked away with the award for
favourite album – rap/hip hop for
The Pinkprint.

Her award was met by mixed reactions on social media, with some people claiming that she was not deserving of the award in the heavily contested rap/hip hop category that consisted of hip hop stars Drake and J Cole.

Nicki Minaj over J Cole and Drake… I don’t understand this world

— Stifler (@_aortiz11) November 23, 2015

“I know this award is about fans voting and I personally
feel like I have the best fans on this planet,” she said in her acceptance
speech.

Maraj also thanked fellow musicians, Drake, Chris Brown, Beyoncé and
Meek Mill, who contributed to
The Pinkprint. The brave Jennifer Lopez took to
stage to pay tribute to Maraj in a medley of 2015’s biggest hits, by performing Maraj’s hit song
Anaconda. The Anaconda hit-maker didn’t look impressed with Lopez’s attempt.

Other memorable
performances of the night included Celine Dion’s tribute to victims
of terrorist attack from all around the world. The Canadian singer performed
Hymne a L’Amour, “giving the
decades-old song new life with her powerhouse vocals while a montage of Paris
landmarks and makeshift memorials outside Le Bataclan appeared on the screen
behind her,” Billboard reported.

Pop singer Taylor Swift was the big winner of
the night – winning three awards for song of the year (Blank Space), favourite
album – pop/rock (1989) and favourite artist – adult contemporary.

See full list of winners

Fashion from the SA Style awards 2015

Television presenter and radio personality Bonang Matheba
won the Style Icon award at the 2015 SA Style awards last night in Hyde Park,
Johannesburg. Matheba looked elegant in a white figure-hugging gown by
Gert-Johan Coetzee, who has dressed her on numerous occasions. The list of SA
Style winners also includes businesswoman Basetsana Kumalo, model Lee-Ann
Liebenberg, singer Lindiwe Suttle and broadcaster Ursula Chikana.

See the fashion below

Bonang Matheba. (Instagram)