Idols South Africa season 18 explained

Module1:
Judges:
Host:ProVerb
Winner:Thapelo Molomo
Runner Up:Nozi Sibiya
Network:Mzansi Magic

The eighteenth season of South African Idols premiered on 17 July 2022 on the Mzansi Magic television network under the theme "Singing a Different Tune".[1] Over 9,000 contestants auditioned for the season. The season was won by Thapelo Molomo and the runner-up was Nozi Sibiya.

Shortly after online auditions for the season were opened, it was announced that Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi would not return to the show as judges.[2] In February 2022, M-Net announced that Thembi Seete and JR replaced them, joining Somizi Mhlongo on the judges panel.[3]

Finalists

This season, instead of the usual Top 16, a Top 12 was announced on 21 August 2022.[4] [5]

ContestantAgeHometownPlace finished
Thapelo Molomo29Mokopane, Limpopo
Nozi Sibiya27Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal
Mpilwenhle Mokopu24Katlehong, Gauteng
Ty Loner21Eldorado Park, Gauteng
Zee Arnolds18Cape Town, Western Cape
Noxolo Mthethwa25Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal
Kabelo Makhetha25Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
CeeJay Canvass24KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal
Tesmin-Robyn Khanye23Katlehong, Gauteng
Lerato Matsabu27Vaal, Gauteng
Nandi Ndathane21Diepkloof, Gauteng
Hope Mkhway23Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal

Weekly Song Choice and Results

Top 12: Duets with Mzansi Stars & Greatest Hits of Today

Group 1 (28 August)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song — Duets with Mzansi Starsscope"col" Orderscope"col" Song — Greatest Hits of Todayscope"col" Result
scope=row Zee1"Empini" with Kelly Khumalo7"Surprise" by ChlöeSafe
scope=row Thapelo2"Langa Linye" with Mduduzi Ncube8"Love Me More" by Sam SmithSafe
scope=row Hope3"Pretend" with Langa Mavuso9"Hrs and Hrs" by Muni LongEliminated
scope=row Mpilwenhle4"Phatha Kahle" with Presss10"Positions" by Ariana GrandeSafe
scope=row Kabelo5"Ngamkhetha" with Nomfundo Moh11"For Tonight" by GiveonSafe
scope=row Tesmin-Robyn6"Pillowtalk" with Boohle12"Pressure by Ari LennoxSafe

Group 2 (4 September)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song — Duets with Mzansi Starsscope"col" Orderscope"col" Song — Greatest Hits of Todayscope"col" Result
scope=row Noxolo1"Kuyenyukela" with Kelly Khumalo7"Jerome" by LizzoSafe
scope=row Nandi2"Ngimnandi" with Boohle8"Enough" by FantasiaEliminated
scope=row CeeJay3"Isgingci" with Mduduzi Ncube9"Love Nwantiti" by CKaySafe
scope=row Lerato4"Soft Life" with Nomfundo Moh10"Kiss Me More" by Doja CatSafe
scope=row Ty Loner5"Cry No More" with Presss11"Last Last" by Burna BoySafe
scope=row Nozi6"Mvula" with Langa Mavuso12"Break My Soul by BeyoncéSafe

Top 10: Spotify's Soulful Sundays (11 September)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song[6] scope"col" Result
scope=row Mpilwenhle1"Kahle" by Amanda BlackSafe
scope=row Thapelo2"All By Myself" by Celine DionSafe
scope=row Tesmin-Robyn3"More Than You" by MoneoaSafe
scope=row Zee4"Jik’izinto" by ZonkeSafe
scope=row Kabelo5"Her Heart" by Anthony HamiltonSafe
scope=row Lerato6"I Can’t Make You Love Me" by TankEliminated
scope=row Ty Loner7"Thando" by Lloyd CeleSafe
scope=row Noxolo8"Masterpiece (Mona Lisa)" by Jazmine SullivanSafe
scope=row Nozi9"Giving Myself" by Jennifer HudsonSafe
scope=row CeeJay10"Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" by John LegendSafe

Top 9: History of Music in Mzansi (18 September)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song[7] scope"col" Result
scope=row Noxolo1"Shebeleza" by Joe MafelaSafe
scope=row Kabelo2"Ekuseni" by Ringo MadlingoziSafe
scope=row Mpilwenhle3"Nomalanga" by Caiphus SemenyaSafe
scope=row CeeJay4"Send Me (South Africa)" by Hugh MasekelaSafe
scope=row Tesmin-Robyn5"Siyaya Phambili" by StimelaEliminated
scope=row Ty Loner6"Scatterlings of Africa" by JulukaSafe
scope=row Nozi7"Nizalwa Ngobani" by Thandiswa MazwaiSafe
scope=row Thapelo8"Papa" by SankomotaSafe
scope=row Zee9"Mama I’m Sorry" by Brenda FassieSafe

Top 8: Parents' High School Crush (25 September)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song[8] scope"col" Result
scope=row Nozi1"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta FlackSafe
scope=row CeeJay2"Mas’thokoze" by MafikizoloEliminated
scope=row Zee3"(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You" by UB40Safe
scope=row Kabelo4"Here and Now" by Luther VandrossSafe
scope=row Ty Loner5"Can You Stand The Rain" by New EditionSafe
scope=row Thapelo6"Let It Be" by The BeatlesSafe
scope=row Mpilwenhle7"Hero" by Mariah CareySafe
scope=row Noxolo8"Miss You Like Crazy" by Natalie ColeSafe

Top 7: Showstopper (2 October)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song [9] scope"col" Result
scope=row Kabelo1"Yeah!" by Usher feat. Lil Jon & LudacrisEliminated
scope=row Noxolo2"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney HoustonSafe
scope=row Mpilwenhle3"Run the World (Girls)" by BeyoncéSafe
scope=row Thapelo4"Di Boya Limpopo" by Master KG feat. Zanda Zakhuza & MakhadziSafe
scope=row Zee5"Grown Woman" by BeyoncéSafe
scope=row Ty Loner6"Locked Out of Heaven" by Bruno MarsSafe
scope=row Nozi7"Don't Stop the Music" by RihannaSafe

Top 6: Lifesong & Joyous Celebration (9 October)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song — Lifesong[10] scope"col" Orderscope"col" Song — Joyous Celebrationscope"col" Result
scope=row Zee1"Hurt" by Christina Aguilera7"Uzuliphathe Kahle" with Joyous CelebrationSafe
scope=row Noxolo2"We Were Here" by Simmy8"My Help" with Joyous CelebrationEliminated
scope=row Ty Loner3"Rock with You" by Michael Jackson9"Who Am I?" with Joyous CelebrationSafe
scope=row Nozi4"One Night Only" by Jennifer Holliday10"Wenzile" with Joyous CelebrationSafe
scope=row Mpilwenhle5"Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson11"Ndenzel’ Uncedo" with Joyous CelebrationSafe
scope=row Thapelo6"I Look to You" by "Whitney Houston"12"Hallelujah Nkateko" with Joyous CelebrationSafe

Top 5: The Babyface Songbook & Local Chart Toppers (16 October)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song — Babyface [11] scope"col" Orderscope"col" Song — Local Chart Toppersscope"col" Result
scope=row Zee1"Breathe Again" by Toni Braxton6"Abalele" by Kabza de Small & DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami FakuEliminated
scope=row Ty Loner2"The Color of Love" by Boyz II Men7"Mgani" by A-ReeceSafe
scope=row Thapelo3"End of the Road" by Boyz II Men8"Sponky Ponky" by Jabu KhanyileSafe
scope=row Nozi4"Never Gonna Let You Go" by Faith Evans9"Asibe Happy" by Kabza de Small & DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami FakuSafe
scope=row Mpilwenhle5"Another Sad Love Song" by Toni Braxton10"Dali Nguwe" by Master KG & Wanitwa Mos feat. Nkosazana DaughterSafe

Top 4: New School Mzansi Hits & How It Should Have Been Done (23 October)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song — New School Mzansi Hits[12] scope"col" Orderscope"col" Song — How It Should Have Been Donescope"col" Result
scope=row Mpilwenhle1"Khusela" by Kabza de Small feat. Msaki5"Jealous" by LabrinthSafe
scope=row Ty Loner2"Selema (Po Po)" by Musa Keys & Loui6"You & I (Nobody in the World)" by John LegendEliminated
scope=row Thapelo3"Seasons" by Lloyiso7"Ndikuthandile" by Vusi NovaSafe
scope=row Nozi4"Thando" by Mvzzle feat. Zammy8"Listen" by BeyoncéSafe

Top 3: My Audition Song, Divas and Divos & Judges' Choice (30 October)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song — My Audition Song[13] scope"col" Orderscope"col" Song — Divas and Divosscope"col" Orderscope"col" Song — Judges' Choicescope"col" Result
scope=row Nozi1"Best Part" by Daniel Caesar feat. H.E.R.4"Try a Little Tenderness" by Aretha Franklin7"Rise Up" by Andra DaySafe
scope=row Mpilwenhle2"Ke Mo Afrika" by Maleh5"Angel of Mine" by Monica8"A Long Walk" by Jill ScottEliminated
scope=row Thapelo3"Esphambanweni" by Kelly Khumalo6"When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton9"So Amazing" by Luther VandrossSafe

Top 2 (6 November)

Act!scope"col"
Orderscope"col" Song — Idols-produced Single[14] scope"col" Orderscope"col" Song — Viewers' Choicescope"col" Orderscope"col" Song — Song of the Seasonscope"col" Result
scope=row Thapelo1"Phanda" by Thapelo Molomo3"Thanayi" by Hugh Masekela5"Let It Be" by The BeatlesWinner
scope=row Nozi2"Idliso" by Nozi Sibiya4"Moments Away" by Mango Groove6"Giving Myself" by Jennifer HudsonRunner-up

Elimination Chart

Colour key
 –Winner
 –Runner-up
 –Eliminated
 –Wild Card
 –Withdrew
Weekly results per act
ActTop 12Top 10Top 9Top 8Top 7Top 6Top 5Top 4Top 3Top 2: Finale
Group 1Group 2
Thapelo MolomoSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeWinner
Nozi SibiyaSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeRunner-up
Mpilwenhle MokopuSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe3rd placeEliminated
Ty LonerSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe4th placeEliminated
Zee ArnoldsSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe5th placeEliminated
Noxolo MthethwaSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe6th placeEliminated
Kabelo MakhethaSafeSafeSafeSafe7th placeEliminated
CeeJay CanvassSafeSafeSafe8th placeEliminated
Tesmin-Robyn KhanyeSafeSafe9th placeEliminated
Lerato MatsabuSafe10th placeEliminated
Nandi Ndathane11th placeEliminated
Hope Mkhway12th placeEliminated

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE: IDOLS SA SEASON 18 IS BACK. EWN. Legodi. Simangele. 8 July 2022. 9 July 2022.
  2. Web site: Idols SA bids farewell to Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi. 23 January 2022. 3 February 2022. News24. Madibogo. Julia.
  3. Web site: Thembi Seete and JR join Somizi as ‘Idols SA season 18’ judges. 16 February 2022. 16 February 2022. Mphande. Joy. TimesLIVE.
  4. Web site: Meet your amazing ‘Idols SA Season 18’ top 12 contestants. Sunday World. Zuma. Mbalenhle. 22 August 2022.
  5. Web site: Crowd faves make it to Idols SA top 12. SowetanLIVE. Seemela. Masego. 22 August 2022.
  6. Web site: Mzanzi, meet your season 18 top 10 finalists for ‘Idols SA’. IOL. 12 September 2022. 19 September 2022.
  7. Web site: Mzansi vote for their ‘Idols SA’ season 18 top 9. IOL. Valentine. Venecia. 19 September 2022. 25 September 2022.
  8. Web site: Idols SA top 8 give spectacular performances. Soweto Urban. Khathi. Mzwandile. 29 September 2022. 3 October 2022.
  9. Web site: ‘Idols SA’ season 18 announces its Top 7 in a blur of lights, props and dashing outfits. IOL. Valentine. Venecia. 4 October 2022. 13 October 2022.
  10. Web site: Idols SA’s top six bring out the joy. The Citizen. Mbhele. Sandisiwe. 10 October 2022. 22 October 2022.
  11. Web site: Idols SA top 5 announced after 13 million votes. The Citizen. Selisho. Kaunda. 17 October 2022. 22 October 2022.
  12. Web site: Idols SA top 4 reactions: ‘Somizi must apologise to Llyoiso’. The Citizen. Mbhele. Sandisiwe. 24 October 2022. 27 October 2022.
  13. Web site: Meet Idols SA season 18 top three contestants. News24. 31 October 2022. Dayile. Qhama. 6 November 2022.
  14. Web site: Idols Season 18: Who will take the crown among these two finalists?. City Press. 7 November 2022. Magagula. Nompumelelo. 13 November 2022.
  15. Web site: 'Idols SA was a stepping stone for my music career' – Mpilwenhle on joining the show. True Love. 7 November 2022. Magadla. Mahlohonolo. 13 November 2022.

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