Electrifying Lindiwe takes Project Fame honours

SHE was dubbed the African diva by fellow contestants and last night she proved why.

In a close final, 25-year-old Zambian Lindiwe Allamu won M-Net’s Project Fame at the Pyramid in Johannesburg. From the moment the two-hour finale started, it was Lindiwe all the way as the crowd persistently chanted for their star.She beat South Africa’s easy-going sweetheart 21-year-old Jonathan Ross, taking 52 per cent of the final vote.”I can’t tell you what my plans are.All I can say is it’s the last time I’m leaving my child behind,” she told members of the press afterwards.Lindiwe is the mother of a five-month-old baby.Her husband Joseph and Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa Lesley Mbula never let their support waver throughout the gala show.Third place winner Nigerian Dare Oluwudare (23), a hot favourite along with Lindiwe, appeared shocked to be ousted from the competition only moments before the end after bringing down the house with his final performance of the night.He also had strong support during the show and, in the past week, came out tops in viewer polls.Lindiwe later said that she believed he was her stiffest competition.After performing Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’ and ‘Never Had a Dream Come True’ by S Club Seven, the board were at a loss for words to describe Africa’s latest singing sensation.The only contestant never to be put on probation throughout the 10-week competition, Lindiwe showed the continent just what untapped talent there is waiting to be discovered.”If you really want something you have to keep trying.I think when it is your time and it’s right for you it will happen,” she said.The Zambian has worked on getting a singing career off the ground for seven years, largely covering songs.Last night was her breakthrough.The top three contestants each win a recording contract with record producers BMG Africa.After leaving the stage with a rousing final performance of ‘River Deep, Mountain High’, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa was on the other end of a telephone waiting to speak to her.”How are you,” she shyly asked the president on a cellphone handed to her in front of the press conference.”It’s a great honour to speak to the president.It’s not every day you get to speak to the president,” she said.There were no probation candidates this week – just a straight fight for the Grand Prize between Tebogo Moloto (South Africa), Dare, Tracey-Lee Oliver (South Africa), Lindiwe and Jonathan.Tracey-Lee and Tebogo were the first to go.Lindiwe’s victory on the continent’s latest reality TV show follows hot on the heels of that of compatriot Cherise Makubule who put her country on the reality map when she won Big Brother Africa last year.Lindiwe said she hoped her win would open doors for other talented musicians in Zambia.Music legends Earth, Wind & Fire performed twice during the show.In addition, two respected DJ’s took up spots as guests on the Project Fame Board this week – Nigeria’s Olisa Adibua and South Africa’s Alex Jay – both experts on what it takes to sell CDs and get people listening.M- Net CEO of Local Productions Carl Fischer said last night that Africa’s first Project Fame show had been a success but it was too early too tell whether it would be repeated next year.* Lindiwe walks away with fantastic prizes:a fabulous Citroen C2, travel vouchers from South Africa Airways, as well as clothing from the Foschini Group, and jewellery from American Swiss.Project Fame was produced by Endemol, and sponsored by MTN.From the moment the two-hour finale started, it was Lindiwe all the way as the crowd persistently chanted for their star.She beat South Africa’s easy-going sweetheart 21-year-old Jonathan Ross, taking 52 per cent of the final vote.”I can’t tell you what my plans are.All I can say is it’s the last time I’m leaving my child behind,” she told members of the press afterwards.Lindiwe is the mother of a five-month-old baby.Her husband Joseph and Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa Lesley Mbula never let their support waver throughout the gala show.Third place winner Nigerian Dare Oluwudare (23), a hot favourite along with Lindiwe, appeared shocked to be ousted from the competition only moments before the end after bringing down the house with his final performance of the night.He also had strong support during the show and, in the past week, came out tops in viewer polls.Lindiwe later said that she believed he was her stiffest competition.After performing Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’ and ‘Never Had a Dream Come True’ by S Club Seven, the board were at a loss for words to describe Africa’s latest singing sensation.The only contestant never to be put on probation throughout the 10-week competition, Lindiwe showed the continent just what untapped talent there is waiting to be discovered.”If you really want something you have to keep trying.I think when it is your time and it’s right for you it will happen,” she said.The Zambian has worked on getting a singing career off the ground for seven years, largely covering songs.Last night was her breakthrough.The top three contestants each win a recording contract with record producers BMG Africa.After leaving the stage with a rousing final performance of ‘River Deep, Mountain High’, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa was on the other end of a telephone waiting to speak to her.”How are you,” she shyly asked the president on a cellphone handed to her in front of the press conference.”It’s a great honour to speak to the president.It’s not every day you get to speak to the president,” she said.There were no probation candidates this week – just a straight fight for the Grand Prize between Tebogo Moloto (South Africa), Dare, Tracey-Lee Oliver (South Africa), Lindiwe and Jonathan.Tracey-Lee and Tebogo were the first to go.Lindiwe’s victory on the continent’s latest reality TV show follows hot on the heels of that of compatriot Cherise Makubule who put her country on the reality map when she won Big Brother Africa last year.Lindiwe said she hoped her win would open doors for other talented musicians in Zambia.Music legends Earth, Wind & Fire performed twice during the show.In addition, two respected DJ’s took up spots as guests on the Project Fame Board this week – Nigeria’s Olisa Adibua and South Africa’s Alex Jay – both experts on what it takes to sell CDs and get people listening.M- Net CEO of Local Productions Carl Fischer said last night that Africa’s first Project Fame show had been a success but it was too early too tell whether it would be repeated next year.* Lindiwe walks away with fantastic prizes:a fabulous Citroen C2, travel vouchers from South Africa Airways, as well as clothing from the Foschini Group, and jewellery from American Swiss.Project Fame was produced by Endemol, and sponsored by MTN.