After not making it past Season 7’s Theatre Week, Tshidi was back to audition for the 8th Season, which proved to be a slightly more successful attempt at becoming South Africa’s next Idol. Watch her audition again here:



At the end of this Season’s Theatre Week at Sun City, it was a nerve wrecking moment for Tshidi and Nosipho as all spots in the Top 16 had been taken and they were yet to hear from the Judges.

Unathi said: “We were looking for a Top 16 and we’ve found it. Both of you were absolutely amazing. And I know it probably hurts. I’m sorry there were just so many amazing singers. Unfortunately it’s left us with no option but to make this a Top 18.”



The Top 18 Contestants would now perform at the new Soweto Theatre. They were all excited and also nervous to perform to the Soweto crowds.

“To be here right now is just so humbling and it’s such an amazing experience to know that a few months ago I was queuing up with 29 000 others.”



At the Top 18 Performance Show, Tshidi wowed audiences with her rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going". From then, fans on Facebook have dubbed our very own South African Jennifer Hudson.



Check out the Top 9 Girls’ group performance of an Adele medley.



This year, the Top 10 was chosen purely by public votes. Gareth voiced concern initially, but later conceded via Twitter that “so far it seems the voters have a good ear.”

We got to know Tshidi the freelance jewelry designer a little better. Watch this:



We then visited the girls at the Idols Mansion to find out what’s worse; Nosipho’s snoring or Tshidi’s late night calls?



At the Top 10 Performance Show, Tshidi’s rendition of the Whitney Houston classic “How Will I Know” saw Randall do what he had never done before. He requested an encore of the song.

“I’ve been doing the show for 8 Seasons, 11 years now, so I’m getting older. So therefore I think it’s only fair that the production people indulge me,” he said.

All three Judges felt that this was surely the performance of the Season so far. Watch it again here:



Tshidi had a good time responding to Randall’s request to sing the Whitney Houston classic “How Will I Know” again.



At the next show, Tshidi stepped out her comfort zone with the song “My Immortal” by Evanescence.

And this is what the viewers thought;
“Proudly talented African Lady, that’s who you are,” - Amostar Hunter.
“You have got an angelic voice. See in the final gal,” - Ts'ebetso Seetsa.
“Tshidi was born to sing no doubt,” - Theophilus Ashimbanga.




When it came to preparing for the “Showstopper” Theme at the Top 6 stage, the girls were finding their performances a mission to perfect. Tshidi simply asked her fans to “please focus on the singing and not the dancing.”

Watch this as the Contestants share what they are finding most challenging about singing and dancing.



Tshidi closed the “Showstopper” Performance Show with “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé.

“Oh Tshidi, I just love you,” Gareth sighed. “It was the right mix of theatrics and performance and a little bit of dancing at just the right times, but you didn’t let the song take control. It was YOU. And I couldn’t take my eyes off of you.” Unathi was impressed that Tshidi managed to personalise one of Beyoncé’s most iconic hits.



Tshidi chose the John Lennon classic “Imagine” for the theme “Top 500 greatest songs according to Rolling Stone Magazine”. Gareth commented on how important and meaningful this particular song’s lyrics are, and he thought that Tshidi had “done it beautifully”.

“I think you brought a degree of soulfulness to it, but it’s the kind of song you don’t need to show off in,” Randall cautioned. “Often in music it’s what you don’t do that counts more than what you do.”



When asked about how our local music industry has grown, Tshidi said: “It was in a box and isolated at some point but I definitely see growth because you now have people doing different things.”



See how Tshidi tackled Zamajobe’s “Ndawo Yami” for the “Homebrew” theme.



For the first duet of the Season, Tshidi and Monde coupled up for the song, “Think Like a Man”. Randall said: “Sometimes when there’s a pairing of singers, they bring out the best in each other.” And that is high praise, coming from him!



At Tuesday’s Live Results Show, Tshidi received the least amounts of votes and with the Judges’ save out of play, this meant the end of her Idols journey.



We take a look back on Tshidi’s voyage on Idols Season 8 and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.



Tune into the show to watch the Top 3 perform on M-Net and Mzansi Magic this Sunday, 23 September at 17:30.

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