The nineteenth and final[1] season of South African Idols premiered on 8 July 2023 on the Mzansi Magic and Mzansi Wethu television networks, under the themes "iLast Number" and "The Farewell Season".[2] The season was won by Thabo Ndlovu, while Princess MacDonald was the runner-up.
| Idols South Africa | |
|---|---|
| Season 19 | |
| Hosted by | ProVerb |
| Judges | |
| Winner | Thabo Ndlovu |
| Runner-up | Princess MacDonald |
| Release | |
| Original network | Mzansi Magic Mzansi Wethu |
| Original release | 8 July – 4 November 2023 |
| Season chronology | |
On 5 February 2023, it was announced that auditions for the final season would commence on 12 February 2023.[3] The live shows began on 19 August 2023, with the ladies taking to stage first.[4]
Finalists
edit| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Place finished | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thabo Ndlovu | 26 | Witbank, Mpumalanga | Winner | |
| Princess MacDonald | 24 | Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga | Runner-up | |
| Faith Nakana | 26 | Lebowakgomo, Limpopo | 3rd | |
| Nkosi Shange | 29 | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | 4th | |
| Niikiey Kubheka | 18 | Vosloorus, Gauteng | 5th | |
| Envic Booysen | 25 | Cape Town, Western Cape | 6th | |
| Thando Mdluli | 22 | Orange Farm, Gauteng | 7th | |
| Sena Mkhwanazi | 28 | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | 8th | |
| Lungelo Motaung | 28 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | 9th | |
| Lungile Mthethwa | 24 | Benoni, Gauteng | 10th | |
| Sipho Manana | 19 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | 11th | |
| Neve Arnolds | 22 | Stellenbosch, Western Cape | 12th | |
Weekly Song Choice and Results
editTop 12: Duets With Former Idols
editLadies (19 August)
edit| Act | Order | Song — Duets With Former Idols[5] | Order | Song — Solo[5] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lungile | 1 | "Not Yet Uhuru" by Letta Mbulu (sung with Yanga) | 2 | "Intliziyo" by Lloyiso ft. Langa Mavuso | Safe |
| Niikiey | 3 | "Make a Way" by Spirit of Praise ft. Mmatema (sung with Mmatema) | 4 | "Intliziyo" by Zonke | Safe |
| Neve | 5 | "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland (sung with Paxton) | 6 | "Mirror" by Madison Ryann Ward | Eliminated |
| Lungelo | 7 | "Safe" by Karabo ft. Tineke (sung with Karabo) | 8 | "Golden" by Jill Scott | Safe |
| Sena | 9 | "Lonely Without You" by Lloyiso (sung with Lloyiso) | 10 | "Sana Lwami" by Woza Sabza ft. Jessica LM | Safe |
| Princess | 11 | "Xolele" by Musa ft. Zama Khumalo (sung with Musa) | 12 | "Russian Roulette" by Rihanna | Safe |
Gents (26 August)
edit| Act | Order | Song — Duets With Former Idols[6] | Order | Song — Solo[6] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thando | 1 | "Khakhathi" by Karabo (sung with Karabo) | 2 | "Noma" by Kaylow | Safe |
| Faith | 3 | "So Will I (100 Billion X)" by Hillsong United (sung with Yanga) | 4 | "Tjontjobina" by Bhudaza | Safe |
| Nkosi | 5 | "Wozala" by Musa ft. Ntsika & Tshego AMG (sung with Musa) | 6 | "Nemimoya" by Nathi | Safe |
| Envic | 7 | "Battleground" by Paxton (sung with Paxton) | 8 | "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown | Safe |
| Sipho | 9 | "Seasons" by Lloyiso (with Lloyiso) | 10 | "Don't Judge Me" by Chris Brown | Eliminated |
| Thabo | 11 | "My Time Is Now!" by Mmatema (with Mmatema) | 12 | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" by Stevie Wonder | Safe |
Top 10: New Kids on the Block (2 September)
edit| Act | Order | Song[7] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nkosi | 1 | "Ubuhle Bakho" by Ami Faku | Safe |
| Lungile | 2 | "Mina Nawe" by Soamattrix & Mashudu ft. Happy Jazzman & Emotionz DJ | Eliminated |
| Faith | 3 | "Imvula" by Murumba Pitch & Omit ST ft. Russell Zuma & Sipho Magudulela | Safe |
| Sena | 4 | "Ngibambe La" by Mthunzi | Safe |
| Niikiey | 5 | "Umona" by Nomfundo Moh | Safe |
| Envic | 6 | "ICU" by Coco Jones | Safe |
| Princess | 7 | "Monalisa" by Lojay, Sarz & Chris Brown | Safe |
| Thabo | 8 | "Molo" by Aubrey Qwana | Safe |
| Lungelo | 9 | "Fatela" by Aymos & Ami Faku | Safe |
| Thando | 10 | "Hamba Juba" by Lady Amar, JL SA, Cici & Murumba Pitch | Safe |
Top 9: Ultimate South African Wedding Playlist (9 September)
edit| Act | Order | Song[8] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niikiey | 1 | "Mmatswale" by Malaika | Safe |
| Lungelo | 2 | "At Last" by Etta James | Eliminated |
| Faith | 3 | "Matswale" by Caiphus Semenya | Safe |
| Nkosi | 4 | "Ekhwan Lami" by Phila Dlozi ft. Mthunzi | Safe |
| Thando | 5 | "Is This Love" by Bob Marley and the Wailers | Safe |
| Princess | 6 | "Phakade" by Lira | Safe |
| Thabo | 7 | "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri | Safe |
| Envic | 8 | "When I First Saw You (Duet)" by Jamie Foxx ft. Beyoncé | Safe |
| Sena | 9 | "All I Do" by Stevie Wonder | Safe |
Top 8: Lionel Richie Playbook (16 September)
edit| Act | Order | Song[9] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thando | 1 | "Love, Oh Love" by Lionel Richie | Safe |
| Sena | 2 | "You Are" by Lionel Richie | Eliminated |
| Envic | 3 | "I Call It Love" by Lionel Richie | Safe |
| Niikiey | 4 | "Easy" by Commodores | Safe |
| Thabo | 5 | "We Are the World" by USA for Africa | Safe |
| Princess | 6 | "Just Go" by Lionel Richie ft. Akon | Safe |
| Nkosi | 7 | "Ballerina Girl" by Lionel Richie | Safe |
| Faith | 8 | "Penny Lover" by Lionel Richie | Safe |
Top 7: Showstopper (23 September)
edit| Act | Order | Song[10] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nkosi | 1 | "Good Kisser" by Usher | Safe |
| Niikiey | 2 | "The Way Ungakhona" by Bongo Maffin | Safe |
| Faith | 3 | "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars | Safe |
| Thando | 4 | "Caught Up" by Usher | Eliminated |
| Princess | 5 | "Criminal" by DJ Mshega ft. Lady Zamar | Safe |
| Envic | 6 | "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z | Safe |
| Thabo | 7 | "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson | Safe |
Top 6: How to Do It & Grammy-Nominated Songs (30 September)
edit| Act | Order | Song — How to Do It[11] | Order | Song — Grammy-Nominated Song[11] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envic | 1 | "Nomvula" by Nathi | 7 | "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton | Eliminated |
| Faith | 2 | "Best Part" by Daniel Caesar ft. H.E.R. | 8 | "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye | Safe |
| Niikiey | 3 | "Inkanyezi" by Mondli Ngcobo | 9 | "Knock You Down" by Keri Hilson ft. Kanye West & Ne-Yo | Safe |
| Thabo | 4 | "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner | 10 | "In Love With Another Man" by Jazmine Sullivan | Safe |
| Nkosi | 5 | "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal | 11 | "All of Me" by John Legend | Safe |
| Princess | 6 | "Dangerously in Love 2" by Beyoncé | 12 | "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys | Safe |
Top 5: Duets With Gospel Stars & Songs by African Stars (7 October)
edit| Act | Order | Song — Duets With Gospel Stars[12] | Order | Song — Songs by African Stars[12] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thabo | 1 | "Wafika" with Dr Tumi | 6 | "Peru" by Fireboy DML & Ed Sheeran | Safe |
| Princess | 2 | "Ungukuphila" with Xolly Mncwango | 7 | "For My Hand" by Burna Boy ft. Ed Sheeran | Safe |
| Niikiey | 3 | "Ngena Noah" with Betusile Mcinga | 8 | "Maradona" by Niniola | Eliminated |
| Faith | 4 | "Healing Power" with Xolly Mncwango | 9 | "In My Maserati" by Olakira | Safe |
| Nkosi | 5 | "Nomathemba" with Betusile Mcinga | 10 | "People" by Libianca | Safe |
| Act | Order | Song — PJ Morton's Playlist[13] | Order | Song — Perfect Date Love Songs[13] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess | 1 | "On & On" by Erykah Badu | 5 | "Shayizandla" by Naima Kay | Safe |
| Nkosi | 2 | "Ordinary People" by John Legend | 6 | "Sondela" by Ringo Madlingozi | Eliminated |
| Faith | 3 | "Love" by Musiq Soulchild | 7 | "Bekezela" by Bekezela | Safe |
| Thabo | 4 | "Kiss" by Prince | 8 | "Ndinike Indawo" by Jaziel Brothers | Safe |
Top 3: DJ Collaboration, Song of the Season & Hits From Their Idols (21 October)
edit| Act | Order | Song — DJ Collaboration[14] | Order | Song — Song of the Season[14] | Order | Song — Hits From Their Idols[14] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thabo | 1 | "Inde" by Heavy-K ft. Bucie & Nokwazi | 4 | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" by Stevie Wonder | 7 | "You Are" by Hle | Safe |
| Faith | 2 | "Piano Ngijabulise" by Deep London ft. Nkosazana Daughter, Murumba Pitch & Jandak1 | 5 | "Tjontjobina" by Bhudaza | 8 | "Thrrr...Phaaa!" by Selaelo Selota | Eliminated |
| Princess | 3 | "Hamba Wena" by Deep London ft. Boohle | 6 | "Russian Roulette" by Rihanna | 9 | "Listen" by Beyoncé | Safe |
Top 2: Idols-Produced Single, Viewers' Choice & Mzansi Classics (28 October)
edit| Act | Order | Song — Idols-Produced Single[15] | Order | Song — Viewers' Choice[15] | Order | Song — Mzansi Classics[15] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess | 1 | "You Know I Do" by Princess MacDonald | 3 | "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys | 5 | "Umqombothi" by Yvonne Chaka Chaka | Runner-up |
| Thabo | 2 | "iSlungu" by Thabo Ndlovu | 4 | "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri | 6 | "Lakutshon' Ilanga" by Miriam Makeba | Winner |
- Before his elimination, Faith Nakana performed his single "Khulumela".[15]
Elimination Chart
edit- Colour key
| – | Winner |
| – | Runner-up |
| – | Eliminated |
| – | Wild Card |
| – | Withdrew |
| Act | Top 12 | Top 10 | Top 9 | Top 8 | Top 7 | Top 6 | Top 5 | Top 4 | Top 3 | Top 2: Finale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladies | Gents | ||||||||||
| Thabo Ndlovu | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Winner |
| Princess MacDonald | Safe | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Runner-up |
| Faith Nakana | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 3rd place | Eliminated |
| Nkosi Shange | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 4th place | Eliminated | |
| Niikiey Kubheka | Safe | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 5th place | Eliminated | ||
| Envic Booysen | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 6th place | Eliminated | |||
| Thando Mdluli | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 7th place | Eliminated | ||||
| Sena Mkhwanazi | Safe | — | Safe | Safe | 8th place | Eliminated | |||||
| Lungelo Motaung | Safe | — | Safe | 9th place | Eliminated | ||||||
| Lungile Mthethwa | Safe | — | 10th place | Eliminated | |||||||
| Sipho Manana | — | 11th place | Eliminated | ||||||||
| Neve Arnolds | 12th place | Eliminated | |||||||||
References
edit- ^ Maako, Keitumetse (23 June 2023). "Final season of Idols SA to premiere in July". News24. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Mbayimbayi, Asanda (4 July 2022). "'Idols SA's iLast Number' farewell season to air on Saturday". The Citizen. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Martin, Celeste (6 February 2023). "TIME TO SAY GOODBYE: SHOCK AND JOY AS IDOLS SA GETS CANCELLED". EWN. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Engelbrecht, Leandra (22 August 2023). "It's now or never: Who will be the last-ever Idols SA winner? Meet the final top 12". News24. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ a b Valentine, Venecia (22 August 2023). "'Idols SA' season 19 first live show ended on a high note with the Top 12 ladies duetting with former winners". IOL. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ a b Mbayimbayi, Asanda (28 August 2023). "'Idols SA' gents battle it out for top 10". The Citizen. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ Ngcobo, Nokuthula (3 September 2023). "Meet 'Idols SA's' last-ever top 10". The South African. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Valentine, Venecia (12 September 2023). "Romance was the order of the day as 'Idols SA' Top 9 serenaded South Africa". IOL. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "'Idols SA' Top 8 holds Mzansi's attention in Lionel Richie tribute show". IOL. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ a b "'Idols SA' Top 7 unveiled in showstopper finale". IOL. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ a b Tlhoaele, Kgalalelo (30 September 2023). "Idols top 6 show what they're made of". Daily Sun. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ a b Tiwane, Bonginkosi (8 October 2023). "Church comes to the Idols SA stage as Top 5 perform Gospel songs". The Citizen. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ a b Nhlapo, Veli (15 October 2023). "IN PICS | Idols SA's final four tackle PJ Morton's favourite tunes". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ a b c "Halalalala! — Meet your 'Idols SA' top 3 Princess, Thabo and Faith". TimesLIVE. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d Seemela, Masego (30 October 2023). "Thabo Ndlovu, Princess MacDonald will face off in the finale of Idols SA". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 31 October 2023.