Unathi to fill Mara's shoes

After Mara made an absolute tit of herself by being drunk on Idols and not only that she went to label the show rascist, claiming Idols was full of racism and if M-Net did not soon sell the competition to the SABC, South Africans would never have a black winner.

Louw said: "L'loyd should have won. Finish and klaar!"

"Black people don't have access to DStv," said Louw. "So a large part of South Africa is excluded. White people vote for white people and black people get the short end of the stick."

So it comes as no surprise that her contract hasn't been renewed. Instead of Mara they replaced her with Metro FM dj/ singer Unathi Nkayi.




The two-time SA Music Awards-nominated musician and DJ was seen chatting nonchalantly in studio with her MetroFM colleagues Glen Lewis and Melanie Bala just before their drive time show, The Avenue.

"I'm very excited and of course humbled. It's a mammoth task, but I get to enjoy my favourite things, which is music and people," she said.

She said she'd known her new co-judges, Gareth Cliff and Randall Abrahams, "for years", but was uncomfortable with the "replacement" tag.

"I could never replace Mam' Mara, no matter what people say. She's remarkable and irreplaceable. hopefully I can be part of fun times now."

Speculation that Louw, 52, who had been a judge on the show for the past six years, would be axed, had begun to build after Cliff asked Twitter followers who they thought should be the new judge on the popular M-Net talent show.


Cliff said on the social networking site yesterday morning: "So Mara hasn't been signed up for Idols VII. Who would you like to see replace her?"

"Is it something I did or said?"

Names of respected musicians including Sibongile Khumalo, Lira, Rebecca Malope and even music show Club 808 presenter Dineo Ranaka were thrown in the pot.

Some had reservations about Msengana's new position.

One user, @chimmaroma, tweeted: "Unathi Msengana replaces Mara Louw on the #Idols judging panel . what did we do to deserve this?"

While @lancelevitas said: "Let's hope she stays away from [Gareth] Cliff's cocktails!" - referring to Louw's embarrassing gaffe last year after which she admitted to being drunk on the live show after drinking a mix of Red Bull energy drink and vodka, which she said was given to her by Cliff.

But Cliff, who admitted that he and fellow judge Randall Abrahams had known about the decision on Tuesday, said Msengana was just what the show needed.

"I've known Unathi since we did an Idols parody 10 years ago, while she was presenting Castle Loud. Of course I also work with her husband [Thomas Msengana, also known as Bad Boy T]. I think she will be terrific because she is young, beautiful, vivacious and also charming, which the show needs," he said.

He said of Louw: "Mara is my friend, and I have got on extremely well with her. We have had some fun times together and doing this without her after six years will feel strange."

M-Net publicity manager Lani Lombard refused to reveal why Louw had been axed, only saying in a statement: "We value Mara's huge contribution to the show over the years, as the judges have all played a vital role in increasing the popularity of the show."

Especially if you mix the magic with painkillers

   Abrahams said of Msengana: "I'm absolutely looking forward to working with her. I think she has a bubbly personality and brings competence to the show."

The first batch of auditions begin in Cape Town on February 12 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, while the show goes live on M-Net and Mzansi Magic in June. Attempts to get hold of Louw were unsuccessful.


We wish Unathi the best of luck, and remember don't except any drinks from Gareth Cliff even if he swears that its not spiked.


BCM



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