Esther & Ezekiel triumphs over a rich finalist list to walk away with $50,000 Grand Prize on East Africa Got Talent Show !

There is always something powerful when blood unites, for a common goal – merge talents, energy, ambition and the all-consuming hunger for more, to be better. Nothing is beyond reach. Even generational dynasties thrive on blood unity.

The just ended East Africa Got Talent Show proved that, to a T.  Through the arts – not just in the dynasties in the art of war – but, also, in the gentler art of entertainment.

The Ugandan sibling duo – Esther and Ezekiel, warmed up to the hearts of millions of people across the world and scooped up the East African Talent prize. And, boy, wasn’t it spectacular? It’s nothing short of amazing, how they put their country on the World’s Talent Map – a country most people wouldn’t hesitate to dismiss as ‘just a regular banana republic’!

Hey, guess who’s Kes.5 million richer? No prizes for guessing that.

The EAGT show finale – televised live on Citizen TV – was so gripping, the Ugandan Head of State took to his often-ignored Twitter handle to congratulate them. The world knows the septuagenarian president for lots of things, but no one foresaw such a mishy-mashy tweet coming:

“My grandchildren have told me about our talented bazukulu Esther and Ezekiel, who have won an East African Talent competition this evening. I am told they are very good singers. I congratulate them.” Yoweri K. Museveni, EGH.

But, then, he couldn’t help it. The winners – Esther & Ezekiel – are so loveable, so next-door. It’s the classic story of overcoming incredible odds. A story of learning the destination after starting the journey, and striving to be better today, than you were yesterday.

Esther & Ezekiel’s journey to stardom wasn’t without lots of challenges. Right from the Audition Stage, they had to battle elder and, perhaps, more experienced contestants. Besides, The Judge’s Bench was also so unforgiving, and strict.

The sibling duo’s first stage appearance was literally a baptism by fire. Art critics contend that this first appearance is definitely what welted their tumultuous journey to eventual victory. It’s the time they improved their self-confidence and learnt to combat stage fright. Perhaps, thanks to their greatest critic (and, stage bully), Judge Gaetano Kagwe.

Their first stage performance was an impossible choice for a newbie: ‘Halleluja’ by Pentatonix. Well, they did it so well, the judges would think they were cheating – lip syncing in showbiz is real. Judge Gaetano had to stop the duet midway. They had to sing it separately, the eleven-year-old boy had to go first. Many wouldn’t expect Ezekiel to nail the Halleluja, it’s for the heavyweights.

Ezekiel delivered an angelic musical solo, striking the judges and the audience with a load of goose bumps. Neither stage fright, often manifesting onstage as complete paralysis, nor the keen, piercing attention from the judges would have him falter.

“Pray tell, how does an eleven-year-old boy command such a powerful pair of lungs?” Wondered Jeff Koinange, the Kenyan judge.

Meanwhile, the EAGT host, Ugandan comedienne Anne Kansiime was helping soothe and contain their mama backstage. She was all nerves!

Well, by a canny combination of talent and hard work, sheer luck and a fair serving of providence, they pulled through to the finals. The finalist’s list was crowded with raw talent from across the region.

The Comedic Dance Group, The Dance Alliance Network, Jehovah Shalom Acapella – from Uganda (it’s indeed not just a banana republic) were all serious title contenders. The versatile, gifted Janella Tamara from Kenya was a personal favorite to a large section of the crowd, as was fellow Kenyans, Spellcast Media. Rwanda was ably represented by an innovative cultural dance troupe – Inteyoberana.

On Sunday night live on stage and TV, Esther & Ezekiel delivered a surreal rendition of ‘When You Believe’, a duet by R&B goddesses, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. It was flawless.

Each of the finalists had a serious chance of victory. The awesome thing is that East Africa Got Talent Show gave all of them much-needed exposure, and showcased their talents to the world. From the stage, career progression is a realistic ambition.

East Africa awaits season two!

 

Watch: Ugandan duo bags coveted East Africa’s Got talent grand prize home

When East Africa’s Got Talent kicked off, we didn’t think it was anything serious. Okay, we didn’t think it was competitive enough like the rest of the global ‘Got Talent’ shows.

With it’s pluses and minuses, sometimes having to re-think your position in regard to it. But just like every other thing that has a beginning, so does it have an end.

The East African talent show 2019 has finally come to a close of it’s first. Additionally, the scores are out and the winners announced, during its finals in Nairobi, Kenya.

East Africa’s Got Talent panel of judges

Uganda scoop’s the 2019 medal courtesy of its champions, Ezekiel and Esther Mutesasira.

Events

Sunday, the 6th of October 2019, was the most awaited moment as East Africa’s Got Talent Show would publicly parade their winners.

First, comedian Ann Kansiime took the floor and did not spare the agitated crowd a long agony ahead of the results.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3SuAFNgFtn/

But finally broke the news that gospel musician Julie Mutesasira’s kids had scooped the coveted award.

A performance of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey’s hit that saw them bag the medal home.

Ugandan duo, Ezekiel and Esther Mutesasira bag the coveted East Africa’s Got Talent’s award

An overwhelmed Julie Mutesasira emotionally expressed:

God, I thank you, I thank you, I thank you. Thank you every body that voted for Ezekiel and Esther I don’t know how to say thank you to you I really don’t know. My children you have made Uganda so proud and East Africa at large. Thank you everyone for your support. You have made me a proud mother.

As their father, Pastor Steven Mutesasira came in:

Glory be to God the most High, I will [live] to serve you always.

The grand prize of $50,000 (Kshs 183M) is theirs to relish.

East Africa’s Got Talent show host, Anne Kansiime and the champions

When asked about the planned expenditure of the grand prize, an 11-year old Ezekiel revealed:

I will first give tithe to God, build a home for the disabled and orphaned children and use the remaining money to process the required travel documents to Canada.  want to visit my mother.

Sunday night finalists included: Kenya’s young songbird Jannell Tamara and Spellcast, Rwandan cultural troupe Intayoberana and Uganda’s Jehovah Shalom Acapella, DNA and Esther & Ezakiel.

Champions

https://youtu.be/1uYqKAMjePk

Finals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3jM7AXdOV0