​ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH

24 OCTOBER 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 7th Annual Gospel Icon Discovery Competition Reaches its Peak
 
Plans for the grand finale of the premium Gospel Talent Search Competition to be held on 01 November at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), are at full blast.
 
On 23 October 2020, eThekwini Municipality launched the 7Th Annual Gospel Icon Discovery (GID) at the ICC. The programme aims to promote the creative sector as an important driver of economic growth.
 
The Chairperson of eThekwini’s Community Services Committee, Cllr Ntokozo Sibiya said the GID is one of the City’s initiatives and signature programmes that contribute substantially to small business development and job creation.
 
“This programme is designed not only to produce future gospel icons, but also to promote unity and social cohesion in our communities as well as eliminating the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality,” said Sibiya
 
This year’s competition will see the winner walking away with an impressive prize to the value of R100 000.00 which includes R35 000.00 for a recording deal. The runner up will walk away with prizes valued at R20 000 while the third-place winner will receive R10 000 in prizes. For the category of contestants below the age of 14 the winner will pocket R10 000.00 and both number 2 and 3 will receive R5000.00 each.
 
The GID is one of many programmes that the City has successfully used to grow its economy and meeting people's needs to enjoy a high quality of life with equal opportunities. “We are excited to report that this year’s competition has created more than 5 000 local jobs which include the musicians, artist makeup, fashion designers and sound engineers,” said Sibiya
 
She added that, over the past six years the GID competition contributed a total of R85 million to the City’s coffers. Estimates indicate that this year’s competition will contribute R33 million to the city's GDP.
 
Head of the Municipality’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit, Thembinkosi Ngcobo said that the creative industry has a tremendous impact on social cohesion, economic development and is leading to radical transformations.
 
“Gospel ID has done just that and created platforms that have yielded positive results for our artists and upcoming artists as they are able to support their families and address economic challenges.”
 
The programme is about the production of men and women of righteousness because of the messages through their music. “The musicians that will be competing are not celebrities but people who will stand on the correct platforms and make correct announcements,” said Ngcobo
 
He added that we are building men and women of character that the City can use as arrows to attack and win life challenges that we are currently facing. “This is more than just a competition, it is also a character-building programme that affords young people a chance to earn a living in music,” he said
 
He encouraged contestants not to take this opportunity lightly as being part of the competition can greatly advance their musical career.
 
ENDS
 
Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit. For media enquiries contact Municipality’s Spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela on 060 966 4220