MBABANE – Eswatini Praise Talent Search was launched yesterday morning with one specific purpose, to put Eswatini firmly on the global map.
The events guest of honour, the Deputy Prime Minister, Thulisile Dladla, in her remarks highlighted that the Eswatini Praise is more than a Gospel music television programme.
“It is a platform that brings together faith, talent, creativity, national identity and community. With voices drawn from across all four regions of the kingdom, it provides an opportunity for our people to celebrate what unites us as the kingdom of Eswatini,” she said.
The DPM also added that as government, they firmly believe that development must leave no one behind.
“This includes persons with disabilities, vulnerable youth, youth with disabilities, orphaned and vulnerable children, and young people from disadvantaged households, including beneficiaries supported through the OVC fund. We must not define a young person by disability, poverty, vulnerability or family circumstances. We must recognise every young person for their abilities, aspirations, talents and potential. I, therefore, encourage the organisers of Eswatini Praise to make inclusion a deliberate and visible feature of this programme,” said the DPM.
The visionary behind the initiative, Gospel legend, Sipho ‘Big Fish’ Makhabane said the main purpose of the talent search is to shine a light on local talent that is still at grassroots level.
“The search will help us unearth local talents and golden voices of Eswatini. We are looking for 20 vocalists who will be selected by locals and our guest judges who are, Nothando Dlamini, OnceMore Six and Rebecca Malope. Once the top 20 has been selected, we will then open voting lines for the public to decide who they want in the top three. Joining the competition is easy, we will have it on our social media platforms,” he said.
If you feel that you have the voice for Gospel, this is your chance to shine. Interested locals can share their 60 seconds video singing to any song and tag Eswatini Praise. For those individuals who have no access to easier network access and smartphones, the organisers will also be doing auditions in some areas in the country.
Eswatini TV CEO, Mlamuli Dlamini said they are part of this initiative as it serves one of their core mandate, which is to shine a positive light on good things happening in the country as they are Sibuko semaSwati.
“Gospel music occupies a special place in the life of our kingdom. It is the sound of our worship, the comfort of our homes and the thread that runs through our weddings, our funerals, our Sundays and our celebrations. And yet, for every voice that fills a church hall in Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo or Shiselweni, there are countless others who have never had the opportunity to be heard beyond their own community. We commit our airwaves, our production expertise and our national reach to ensure that the story of this search, from the very first regional audition to the grand finale, is told with the excellence it deserves. We commit to carrying these voices from the audition floor into every household across the kingdom and to giving this initiative the visibility befitting an undertaking of national importance,” he said.
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