Karoke competition airs episode 7, 'a karaoke Christmas'

Episode seven was the Christmas edition of Africa’s first televised karaoke competition, TECNO Own The Stage, and it went on air on Sunday, December 27, with the show’s hosts Uti Nwachukwu and Vimbai Mutinhiri as well as the judges wishing everyone a merry Christmas.

The judges – Bien, Yemi and M.I. even attempted to serenade the audience and viewers with their rendition of ‘Silent Night’ but that didn’t go according to plan.

But one thing that went according to plan was the evening’s first performance by Sikin, who performed ‘Santa Baby’, a song originally sung by back in 1953. And an enthralled M.I. described the Kenyan’s performance as “smouldering hot and beautiful.”

It was the perfect way to start the show and it was followed up by another fabulous performance by Pascal, who sang ‘Mistletoe’. At the end of the performance, Bien described Pascal’s rendition of Justin Bieber’s 2011 hit as the Kenyan’s “first true performance” of the contest.

Next up was Tosin, who performed ‘Drummer Boy’. And for the first time in a long while, she received plaudits from Yemi who had over the past couple of episodes been unimpressed with the Nigerian.

Yemi and her fellow judges were however not impressed with Mary’s rendition of ‘Silent Night’, as well as Yubu, who for the first time since the commencement of the karaoke contest failed to win the heart of the judges.

It was thereafter the turn of Zooccu to try to own the stage with her rendition of the classic Christmas song ‘White Christmas’. And for someone who had previously never sung a Christmas tune, she did enough to impress the judges.

But not quite as much as Shaapera, who wowed everyone with her rendition of ‘We Three Kings of Orient are’, a song written as far back ago as 1857 by Rev. John Henry Hopkins.

The Nigerian’s act was followed up by a somewhat suppressed performance by Ramar254, who attempted to own the stage with his rendition of ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’, a song first recorded by Judy Garland in 1944 and made popular 13 years later by the legendary Frank Sinatra.

The last contestant to take to the stage was Nandy, who nervously performed Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas’. And just like her fellow Tanzanian, Zooccu, it was also Nandy’s first time of performing a Christmas song.

But even though it was the season to be jolly, somebody had to go home. And Nandy, Yubu, Ramar254 and Mary were all shortlisted for eviction by the judges, with Bien going on to announce that all four of them had been evicted from the show.

It was a pronouncement that was greeted with shock and disbelief by everyone, most notably the remaining five contestants who watched on in disbelief.

But moments later, shock turned into tranquil calm after Bien announced that it had all been a prank and that no one was getting evicted as it was Christmas.

It means that all nine contestants are still in contention for the $25,000 star prize.

Remember to keep up with the contest on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and don’t miss next Sunday’s episode on the various Africa Magic channels and on Masha Magic East. Broadcast times are as follows:

Africa Magic Showcase – Sundays at 19:00 CAT

Africa Magic Urban – Sundays at 21:00 CAT

Africa Magic Family – Wednesdays at 19:00 CAT

Masha Magic East – Tuesdays at 18:30 CAT.

This is a feature by TECNO