After a grueling nine months and over 36 million votes later, King William’s town native Luyolo Yiba has been crowned the winner of SA Idols for 2019.
In a tightly-contested competition, Yiba was named the winner of the 15th season of Idols South Africa during a televised live show with KwaZulu-Natal favourite Sneziey Msomi as the runner-up.
As South Africa’s newest singing idol, the 24-year-old software developer takes home prizes worth over R1.5 million. This includes a recording deal from Gallo, R1 million prize money and a Ford Fiesta among others.
The Sunday Idols SA finale was a spectacular affair as Yiba performed John Legend’s ‘Green Light‘, accompanied by the Mzansi Gay Choir, while Msomi did a sterling job with Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse’s rendition of ‘Burnout‘.
The two also performed a duet, ‘You are the Reason‘ by Leona Lewis and Calum Scott. Asked by Metro FM’s Mo Flava to sum up his journey, Yiba said: “As contestants we didn’t see this as a competition, but as a show. We focused on our individual strengths and what was expected from each one of us, and that removed the pressure from all of us.”
King William’s celebrates their own
To celebrate Yona’s big win, King William’s town in the Eastern Cape was transformed into a big street carnival as thousands of delighted well wishers cheered uncontrollably, while passing cars hooted in a show of support.
Ahead of the live finale on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), hundreds of Club View residents in King William’s Town braved the cold to watch as one of their performs for the last time, ultimately taking the crown.
Yiba is the first SA Idols contestant from the Eastern Cape to win the singing competition.
