Idols Top 16 kick off battle for glory

To secure their place in the coveted Idols Top 16, contestants had to give their all with a solo performance in front of the harshest critics – the four judges, the media and the country’s biggest Idols fans, who were brought to Sun City courtesy of Telkom.

Elwira Standili, 22, from Worcester, who judge Somizi Mhlongo loved so much at the Cape Town auditions, opened the day with an impressive, confident performance of Jennifer Hudson’s Giving Myself, with piano and percussion accompaniment.

The highlight of the day was 23-year-old Mmatema Moremi from Zebediela in Limpopo, who was part of the group that blew the judges away with their performance of TLC’s Creep.

And with her performance of Demi Lovato’s Scyscraper as the final solo of the day, she proved she was no fluke.

Mhlongo was literally jumping up and down with joy.

“Who are you!” he exclaimed in wonder.

DJ Unathi Msengana was reduced to tears of joy. “You reminded the 28 people who sang before you that they had one chance,” she sobbed, “and for a lot of them that one chance wasn’t enough because you came and you shut it down”.

The contestants are now headed into the Group Shows, with the guys going head-to-head on 30 August and the ladies on 6 September.

Here are the happy hopefuls who make up the Top 16 vying for ‘Idols’ glory:

Amanda Antony

Bridgett Leahy

Dineo Moseki

Elwira Standili

Karabo Mogane

Loyiso Gijana

Lungisa Xhamela

Nadia Herbst

Nina Terblanche

Mmatema Moremi