Adrian stars in Sunbird search
A new star is born. His name is Adrian Kwelepeta.
After months of gruelling performances, the public decided that the 22-year-old be crowned the Sunbird Search for a Star winner on Saturday night at the Capital Hotel Marquee.
It was a night full of fun and entertainment with the five finalists —Kwelepeta, Chisomo Mteteka, Ruth Magona, Sithembile Banda and Brian Chilowa – proving to the crowd that they deserved the K500 000 (about $1 250) top prize.
Edgar ndi Davis, Patience Namadingo, Skeffa Chimoto, E Wallet 2012 winner Wakhumbachi Kaluwa and Floor Steppers were all on hand, giving people fascinating entertainment for the night.
The finalists outwitted each other, with the three judges praising them throughout. But people decided that Adrian should be the winner with Mteteka and Magona winning K300 000 (about $750) and K200 000 (about $500) respectively for emerging runners-up.
“I am happy that I have won. Music is my life and this day has given me courage and will spur me to do more. Thanks for believing in me Malawi, this honour will forever change my life and that of my mother. In fact, I owe this feat to her,” said Kwelepeta.
Sunbird Group sales and marketing manager Titania Katenga Kaunda said as sponsors, they are happy that they have achieved what they sought to do — unearthing a musical star.
“We are pleased with how the show has ended because we now have a star. Adrian has been good since the word go. The response from people in terms of both shows attendance and voting has been good and we can comfortably say we will do it again. Next year it will be bigger and better,” she said.
The talent show’s project director Felix Njawala was also happy with how Sunbird Search for a Star has progressed and ended.
The moment the winner was announced, the audience was ecstatic, endorsing Adrian as a worthy winner.
“We are hopeful that they have made the right decision. On our part, we have done what we wanted, unearthing hidden talent,” explained Njawala.
The Sunbird Search for a Star finalist drew high profile people including the hotel chain’s chief executive officer Roger Gardner, ZBS managing director Gospel Kazako and Minister of Tourism Wildlife and Culture Moses Kunkuyu.
