The former Idols SA finalist Botlhale Phora has become the latest artist to transition into the genre of Gospel.
The 28-year-old was one of the contestants in the talent show in 2017, however, fell short by finishing third to the competition winner, Paxton Fillies.
Speaking to the news and entertainment publication SowetanLive, Botlhale who grew up in a Christian household, said that he has always known that gospel was the route he needed to go in his career and says that he regretted not venturing into the path earlier.
Speaking to the above-mentioned publication, he said:
“I’ve always known that gospel is where I should go but I was in denial. Only now, I’m doing last minute things and starting from scratch, basically at the bottom and I hope with my drive, I get to occupy the gospel space and become the biggest gospel artist in SA.”
He believes that if he had used the platform provided by Idols SA, he could have been much more advanced in his career by now.
Following his Idols journey, he has had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to the United Kingdom as part of a theatre group from 2017 to 2023. Here he played the role of Nelson Mandela.
Meanwhile, he has now decided to take his musical career more seriously by releasing a 10-track album and touring churches to perform some of his music.
“This album is a variety of the different types of gospels we have out there. I have a Lundi Tyamara type of song, a ZCC one, Hillsong worship, and even Apostle. It’s all-inclusive to all types of praise because we all praise one God,” he told SowetanLive.
Meanwhile, he is not the first Idols contestant to venture into gospel. In 2018, the season 14 winner Yanga Sobetwa shocked many when she revealed that she wanted to go into gospel.
“I want to help bring teenagers closer to God through music and that is through gospel music. I want to make gospel pop music, like vibey gospel music. I can’t wait for my album and for people to hear it,” she told TshisaLive at the time.
Also see: Idols SA winner Yanga Sobetwa speaks on living with depression
