By Anyway Yotamu
The Time is Now to find the best voices in Africa. Online entries to Old Mutual Amazing Voices Season 2 opened on 28 October 2020 with a grand prize of US$100 000 up for grabs.
This Pan-African acapella singing competition is searching for talented unsigned singing groups from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Groups of four, six, and eight who sing Gospel, Pop, or RnB are encouraged to enter the competition and submit a two-minute audition video on http://www.oldmutual.co.za/amazing-voices before 26 November 2020.
Entrants will have their video submissions reviewed by a team of experienced and in-country talent selectors. The groups selected to go forward to the next round in the competition will be invited to attend closed auditions in the capital cities of the participating countries during November and December.
Two groups from each country will then be given the opportunity to represent their nation at the elimination phase held in South Africa. Leading to the exciting finale, the elimination process will result in just three groups fighting it out in the ultimate “sing-off”.
Therefore the public is encouraged to vote for their favourite group to give them a chance to win the grand prize and title of Season 2 Old Mutual Amazing Voices winners.
Speaking to Spiked Online Media, Old Mutual Head of Group Marketing and Innovation, Lillian Mbayiwa said, “We love the fact that this sponsorship discovers and develops young people with great talent. Old Mutual has been championing mutually positive futures for 175 years and we are grateful that we can enable them to achieve and share their exceptional best. It’s a great privilege. There is no greater time than now to focus on what really matters, your passion,” she said.
All the talent, drama, and suspense will be captured in a television series that will be aired across various DStv channels from March 2021.
Based on feedback from the 2019 finalists, the next crop of talented contenders is in for a life-changing experience. Since returning to Kenya, Wanavokali has been working hard on their debut album. They are excited about the doors and opportunities that have opened for them.
Ythera Chege, group leader of Wanavokali, winners of the first season of Old Mutual Amazing Voices said, “We are busy recording demos for the new album and focused on getting the album out into the world early next year!” he said.
Apart from being a musical growth experience, she says Amazing Voices taught them some great life skills, including how to manage their finances responsibly in the challenging music business.
“The financial education we received from Old Mutual at the AMPD Studios in Johannesburg really helped us to manage our winnings wisely and instilled in us the essential habits of saving and planning,” added Chege.
Dstv Zimbabwe General Manager, Norman Raisbeck said, “After a successful first season of Old Mutual Amazing Voices on Zambezi Magic here in Zimbabwe, we are delighted to bring to our viewers another relevant, aspirational and entertaining season of the show”, he said.
“This exciting Pan-African singing competition not only builds ties across the continent but also gives our talented musical groups an opportunity to showcase their skills to a wide audience, receive mentorship from some of the best artists on the continent and of course stand a chance to win USD$100 000,” said Raisbeck.
Season 2 brings back popular musical artist “Tembalami” as the Zimbabwe Selector.