All 10 Poso Gospel Icon safe for now
Lucy Kgweetsi | Tuesday August 19, 2025 15:57
The Saturday show was set to trim the number of hopefuls down to five, but instead, the entire group advanced to the next round. The decision came as a surprise to both the contestants and the audience, who had braced themselves for the first major chop of the season.
Instead of the anticipated tension, the night ended in relief, with all the performers still in the running.
Those who remain in the competition include Sarah Amogelang, Tlotlo Mpe, Tao Rapitse, Noma Mathaba, Saltie Agatha Elijah, Pesalema Motshodi, Sylvia Mbopi, Faith Kenosi, Tshiamo Senyarelo, and Bokang Thelo.
Each contestant had prepared for the possibility of elimination, but the judges’ announcement shifted the atmosphere, replacing anxiety with applause and even tears of joy from some family members in attendance.
The show has been running for several weeks, bringing together young gospel singers from across the country.
While it follows the familiar structure of televised singing competitions, its organisers have at times departed from strict elimination rules, as was the case this weekend.
The rationale behind the decision to retain all the contestants was not fully explained, but it was framed as an opportunity to give each singer more time to demonstrate their ability before the final rounds and to give Batswana more chance to vote for their favourites.
For the contestants, the development means more time on stage, but also heightened pressure. The expected narrowing of the field has now been postponed, leaving the singers with the task of proving themselves in an even more crowded line-up.
Audience reactions have been mixed. While many welcomed the decision as fair and encouraging, others questioned whether it would make the final rounds more difficult and perhaps delay the momentum of the show.
Still, there was general agreement that the level of talent amongst the contestants is strong enough to justify keeping them on for at least another week.
The competition will continue in the coming weeks, with the remaining contestants set to perform again before the next round of results.
As the show moves forward, attention will be on whether the judges and organisers eventually return to the planned top-five format, or whether Saturday’s decision signals a broader shift in how this year’s Gospel Icon will unfold.
For now, the stage remains crowded, the voices remain many, and the journey to crown a new Gospel Icon is still wide open.