10 things you need to know about Somizi, Idols SA's quirkiest judge

01 December 2015 - 15:35 By Leigh-Anne Hunter
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Somizi Mhlongo, who joined the latest season of 'Idols SA' as the contest’s fourth judge, injected much-needed oomph into the show with his outrageous outfits, platinum punk hairdos, and candid commentary.

It’s arguably thanks to "SomGaga”, as he’s known, that many are calling season 11 the best yet – with overall votes spiking from 24.3 million in season 10, to a whopping 78.8 million.

Here are 10 things to know about the man who gave 'Idols SA' a facelift

1. He’s had a longstanding career in the entertainment industry.

Mhlongo is a respected choreographer who has worked with the likes of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and R. Kelly. When he’s not busy with a dance project (he worked on the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony), he can be seen in social circles and on talk shows as the opinionated “Madame Gigi” – his drag alter-ego. 

 

2. He says he owes his success to his parents, late comedy virtuoso Ndaba Mhlongo and actress Mary Twala.

“The showbiz bug is in my genes. All I know is lights, camera… action.”From age two, he travelled with his parents to stage musicals around the country. “My greatest memory was travelling… in a self-made tour bus, where they took out the seats and put in mattresses. For me that was amazing – to sleep on a mattress and yet be mobile.”

“I’m not arrogant. I’m very confident,” he says. That’s thanks to “my parents telling me that I’m a special, amazing, good child”.

3. He believes that growing up in Orlando East in Soweto moulded his character.

"I tell it like it is. That’s what I brought to Idols. It comes from being in the township, being gay, and standing up for what I believe in from an early age. I’ve never been in the closet. Never. [So] I never came out. I’ve never denied my sexuality.”

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4. He has been dirt broke.

“I’ve been exposed to the glam side of show business and the money was coming in. I bought a house, cars. And I made a few financial mistakes… I needed that wakeup call to appreciate what I have now.”

5. In Grade 9, he dropped out of school.

“My parents didn’t know. I wanted to pursue dance and they wouldn’t allow it because I’d be distracted from my studies. Absolutely I’m happy I made that decision. I wouldn’t encourage anyone to do it, but I was driven by passion. I knew at age 12 what I wanted to be. I didn’t see Biology and Science playing a major part in my future, so why was I wasting my time? I don’t do anything half-heartedly. I go all in. I’m the epitome of passion."

6. Before Mhlongo made it onto Idols SA, he was a judge from his couch.

"I watched the previous 10 seasons at home and I would disagree with some of the judges’ comments. Sometimes I think some judges would say things because they didn’t want to come across as baddies. I promised myself that’s one mistake I’ll never make. Even if everyone else says the song was great, it’s my ears and I will speak what my ears are hearing.”

7. He saw becoming a judge on Idols SA as an opportunity “to prove a point”.

“A lot of people said: ‘Why him?’”,  Mhlongo says. “‘What does he know about music?’ I love such challenges, where I have to fly against the wind. My music career stands 30 years, before Sarafina! days. (Mhlongo starred in the stage production at age 13 and the 1992 film with Whoopi Goldberg). I know my music.”

“My aim was not to reinvent Idols,” he says. “I just got a job and a job that I love.I could have flopped. I decided to fly.”

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8. He loves being a father.

He has one daughter, Lehlohonolo Bahumi, 20, whom he fathered with actress, Palesa Madisekwane.“Fatherhood is amazing. I never asked anyone for advice on how to be a father. I did it my way.” The greatest lesson he’s taught her? “Stay hungry, and she’ll never go hungry.”

9. He's a hot topic on Twitter.

His legion of fans include well-known figures, from Julius Malema, who tweeted that he is a “very good and genuine, black child making us more proud,” to celebrity Boity Thulo, who tweeted that “Somizi is the best thing that happened to IdolsSA.”

Everything from his hairdos, to his memorable comments, have sparked debates in Twitter Land. #dishwashing water personality, for instance – what Mhlongo accused season 11 winner Karabo Mogane of having at his audition – got the Twitterati buzzing.

10. He’s anti-substance abuse.

"I hope I make a good example because when [his financial collapse] happened, I was sober. I was clean. I’ve never taken drugs. I think that made a huge difference because you find some people hit rock bottom because of substances…. And I was grateful because I’ve been in situations where I’ve been offered drugs and for me they’ve never made sense.”

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