It has been over three weeks since it was confirmed that the popular American singing-competition The Masked Singers was getting a South African spin-off. The premise of the show is based on popular US figures who go undercover and sing their hearts out for “detectives” and the public to guess who is under the mask.
At the time of the spin-off’s announcement, it was met with some criticism over one of its detectives. This was reported as:
Mixed emotions over media personalitySomizi Mhlongo joining the new detectives panel of The Masked Singers. Recently, Mhlongo has been receiving quite a backlash from every angle on social media for continuously booking jobs.
While scores of people are excited about The Masked Singers singing show and the new detectives' panel. It has become apparent that not everyone shares similar sentiments about media personality Somizi Mhlongo.
Evidently, a number of people and tweeps at large are at their wits end with Mhlongo on their TV screens. Taking to Twitter, tweeps have collectively joined hands to call out and slam Mhlongo for booking The Masked Singers show.
Despite this fact, the show is going ahead as planned. As such, as part of the rollout, the show has since teased what to expect ahead of the first season premiere of the show.
First look at The Masked Singers SA season one contestant
Taking to social media on Tuesday, 25 April 2023, Anele Mdoda shared the official first look at the contestants that are a part of season one of The Masked Singers SA. Within the teaser, host Mpho Popps shared the scope of personalities taking part during the first season by sharing:
“Behind every one of these masks is a South African celebrity ready to sing their hearts out. Singers, sports stars, socialites, and maybe a politician or two… The Masked Singer South Africa, can you guess who is behind the mask?”
Listening to the jingle of the show, it is clear that the vocalist behind it is none other than Kaya Mthethwa. However, it is unclear whether this means that Kaya will also take part as one of the masked singers. As such, the matter of the contestants is still a mystery.
Just over a month away before tv takes on the wild side of life. @maskedsingerza is about to drop and this post is a @mphopopps appreciation post. Sabc 3 and Sabc 1- 3rd of June. 18:30 on @sabc3 and same night @sabc1_mzansifosho at 20:00. pic.twitter.com/rS3XdrJXLX
I’m so excited for this, it looks so well produced 👏🏾😍😍! also the person singing here sounds so good, is that @khayamthethwa ?
— A Global Media PowerHouse👑. (@Ndamase_Siya) April 25, 2023
What is not a mystery is who is behind bringing the show to South Africa after they made it clear that this has been years in the making. As reported at the time:
[In light of the] discussion of the IP licensing rights and the manner they were obtained. This is as one tweep suggested that they were slighted by the commissioning editor when they proposed the show back in 2022. However, Anele was not having it as she took to Twitter to make it clear that she got the rights from Fremantle back in 2019 to have the show have its South African version.
