This year’s talent search competition, My Star, has more males than females, and they continue to impress the audience and judges with scintillating performances in a genre of pop which is known to be female dominated in Africa and Botswana.
“More men continue to attend the show and also continue to perform better than their female counterparts,” admitted the show’s producer, Keabetswe ‘Master Dee’ Sesinyi.
Master Dee said this year’s competition has seen thirteen males in the top twenty, leaving only seven spots for females. He said this is unlike in the past where males only constituted thirty per cent or less of the top twenty.
In the audience, the males are also coming in great numbers as this publication has observed. It is not like in the past when few males came looking not excited and clueless; this time around the males are seen on the BTV set or live at the BTV auditorium dancing and singing along with the competing My Star aspirants.
“I used to think pop is a woman thing until I came to this place. I plan to be a regular and I also vote when it is time to vote my favourite contestant. I am even thinking of auditioning next year,” says Boitshwarelo Samson.
Samson said he is supporting all the males who are competing and wish they could walk in the footprints of the late pop king Michael Jackson and the sensational American hit maker Chris Brown.
He said his favourite contestants are Ontefetse and Khumo, adding that he has sympathy for Hailey and Tebogo as he said they are also good singers.
Last week has seen a lady being evicted from the show as Queen was shown the door, leaving men being the majority. The number of contestants is now trimmed to twelve.
Fans on the social network and on public areas continue to praise performances of Ontefetse, Ralph and Tebogo, however Hailey, who has become a firm favourite as she always receives a standing ovation when on stage, continues to give the pop king aspirants a run for their money.
A great performer on her day, Khumo also proves to be a force to reckon with to her male counterparts. Gaone and Vusi continue to be the dark horses in the show and they also put on unforgettable performances when on song.
This week has seen the show having its first eviction outside Gaborone as evictions were made at Jwaneng (Friday).
Since My Star joined the shores of Botswana music talent search industry in 2008, only two males won, Kitso and Tebogo. With the majority of males competing in top twelve this week, it is still to be seen whether the coveted P100 000 prize money will go to the ‘boys.’
