Henties Bay has a new superstar.
Ronaldo delivered a show-stopping, top-of-the-draw performance on Friday night at the NTN Backstage to be crowned the fifth Next Ma/Gaisa Star.
The Swakopmund-born singer, baptized Ronaldo Awaseb, left the four judges – including Kaisames Radio boss Desiree Christian – with no doubt.
The panel of judges consisted of Esme Songbird, who rates among the finest female singers in the country, Ome Backoz, a veteran musician who also performed three of his evergreen hits on the night and Clarence Eiseb, an experienced campaigner on the Namibian music scene.
On the night, Ronaldo’s high-calibre song and dance repertoire outshone an equally explosive set from his closest rival, Tia Katii, who finished second.
Tia also brought the highly enthusiastic audience to the edge of their seats with a five-star performance, which she concluded with an exquisite dance routine.
From day one, the 26-year-old Ronaldo showed he meant business. And it paid off.
He walks away with the N$50 000 grand prize and the coveted crown. Tiya, on the other hand, received N$20 000 while third placed Bruce Lee from Windhoek got N$10 000.
The judges called him “a real great talent with the potential to take the Namibian music scene by storm”.
“This is the first singing competition I have entered. Apart from taking part during talent dance competitions at Kamwandi Secondary School in Henties, I have also been singing in school and church choirs,” Ronaldo notes.
“Apart from my musical background, I have also been a keen football player at school. Unlike my idol Christiano Ronaldo, who is one of the most lethal strikers of the game, I enjoyed myself in the defence.”
The former right-back says he entered the competition after he recently lost his job as a waiter.
“I was working as a waiter back home in Henties Bay until recently. Sometimes, God works in very unexpected ways. Who says I could have entered the Next Ma/Gaisa Star competition if I was still employed,” he asks.
“I am going to use some of my prize money to explore the local music scene. It has always been my dream and wish to become a singer. It is not going to be easy, but I’m not someone who easily walks away from a challenge.”
The night also saw very exceptional entries contesting for the grand prize, and the NTN Backstage venue really witnessed top-class competition.
Tiya from Khorixas, who was the third contestant to perform, drew huge crowd applause, especially during her second song.
It was a matter of leaving the best for last when the stocky gifted songstress went through her routine and performing her solo dance towards the end of the song, the crowd went into an absolute frenzy.
Comments like “you’re a real force to be reckoned with”, “you have arrived on the biggest stage”, “Namibia must not sleep on you” and “you are a true showstopper” echoed through the mics of the four judges.
Even Tia appeared very confident that she did all it takes to claim the grand prize only to be outdone by Ronaldo’s electrifying performance, which had judge Eiseb exclaiming: “you are more than a star.”
Third place was always going to go to Bruce Lee – the very first contestant to take to the stage on competition night.
Although he was as energetic as his two frontrunners, the Windhoek-based singer shook off the pressure of being the first contestant to perform and give a very mild but brilliant repertoire
Blessed with a powerful voice that he used to great effect, the powerful built Bruce Lee displayed authority and commanded his performance with a great stage presence.
The young and talented female trio of Lavisha, Moxy, and Christina all proved to be future stars in the making, and, although not among the winners, they certainly exposed and marketed themselves well for the future.
Friday’s show will go down as one of the most exciting editions of the coveted competition and the very best when it comes to enthusiasm of the audience throughout.
