Africa-Press – Lesotho. Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) has awarded the top ten local artistes who participated in the Econet Theme Song competition that ended on October 15th. The awardees went home with cash prizes,
data, and smartphones. Earlier in the month of September 2021, ETL launched a Theme Song competition where top 10 finalists were to share over M160, 000 in cash, smartphones and data.
The purpose of the competition was to expose the wealth hidden in Lesotho’s untapped musical talent as well as to celebrate ETL and its associated products.
ETL Acting Marketing and Brand Communications Manager Lipalesa Mpemi said this was one of the most exciting competitions, saying it served its purpose of motivating local artistes.
She further said the pandemic affected everyone but the entertainment industry was the worst hit. She said the selection of top10 winners was not easy due the number of entries
received. ”Lesotho has got talent and our judges took their time to listen and carefully analyzed all the submissions to select the top10 winning songs,” she
said. Mpemi said these were selected from 150 entries of artistes. The panelists were music veterans like Sir Sechaba Mokoqo, a deejay, music producer and the founder of Young Musicians Emporium, Mookho
Moqhali, an award winning afro-jazz, neo-soul, afro-pop and gospel musician as well as Dallas T, who is a radio and TV presenter and producer. “The selection
criteria was based on the performers tone in terms of clarity, resonance and focus, intonation, rhythm, technique, interpretation and creative inclusion of
Econet products,” she said. The first Prize winners who walked away with M80 000 cash are Tefo Chakela known by his stage name, Mate Quan working with Hlabaki Thabana H.
B. K Sharkboy. The second winners are Neo Matee, Poloko Mohlapiso and Lekaka Lekaka who walked away with M40 000 cash and the third winner who walked away with M10 000 is Rethabile ‘Nai.
The ultimate winners were selected through Facebook likes by the public and Econet staff members during a three weeks’ time frame. The first Prize winner Mate Quan was
awed by his achievement, he thanked ETL team for launching the competition and presenting this golden opportunity to the industry that was gradually loosing
hope. “I never thought that through music, in Lesotho, a person can win such a huge amount of money,” he said. Meanwhile, ETL General Manager Marketing and Customer Experience ‘Mapusetso Ntšekhe thanked the massive
participation of artistes, saying it was humbling. “What humbled us more is that the competition ran for a short time yet the response was more than good.
We then learnt that we are not giving our local artistes enough credit, which they deserve on their talents,” she said. She emphasized that ETL has committed itself to support Basotho youth and their talents and they are always searching for the means to help them improve their talents.
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