Tears as Eric clinches Idols

Tears as Eric clinches Idols

IDOL: Eric Moyo won Idols on Sunday

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By Isaac Nyambiya

ERIC Moyo. Remember the name!

A new Zimbabwean superstar was born on Sunday after Bulawayo-born Eric won Idols East and Southern Africa in Kenya.

The tearful and prayerful pastor’s son joined the life of the jet-set after winning the vote of millions of the show’s viewers around the world.

On top of an US$80 000 cash prize, Moyo won a recording deal with Sony BMG with US$25 000 worth of album sales guaranteed.

The 26-year-old becomes the second Zimbabwean to win a major African entertainment contest after Brita Maselethulini won the inaugural Miss Malaika held in South Africa in 2001 to take home US$250 000 and Mercedes Compressor.

Online polls conducted by Mnet leading to Sunday’s tense finale with Ugandan Nicollette Kiige showed Eric with 58.9% against Nicollete’s 19.8% -- making him the clear favourite.

When Eric rose to deliver a rendition of Michael Bolton’s 'When A Man Loves A Woman', his eyes locked with those of his parents – in the audience for the first time.

His voice cracked and tears came flooding. He recollected himself to a rising crescendo of applause from an audience keenly aware the Zimbabwean was minutes from a life-changing experience.

Eric explained: "I was shocked. I didn’t think they would be here and I had preferred they were not here because I would have taken any result without any problem.

"Them being here made me want to win, but fortunately I won and it became important that they were here with me, I was very happy in the end.

"But it disturbed me during the show and I was crying while performing on stage."

When it was announced he had won, Eric cried a river. He thanked God and his family.

One famous Zimbabwean willing Eric on was acclaimed Zimbabwean singer and producer, Audius Mtawarira (download music). The Australia-based Audius has a worldwide publishing deal with SonyATV and he told New Zimbabwe.com he was itching to work with Eric.

"Eric is a fantastic artist who has a huge future ahead of him. He has done Zimbabwe proud and I'm sure the country and the rest of the world can't wait to hear his debut album,” said the producer who has worked with Joe Thomas; co-wrote and produced 'Born To Try' with Delta Goodrem, a single which went platinum in Australia and reached number two in the UK charts.

Eric will be off to South Africa this week to record his first single “This is My Everything”, especially written for him by song-writers at Sony BMG. He will start working on his album shortly after.

His father, Pastor Conet Moyo, told of his pride over his son's fairytale rise to fame: "I feel honoured to have a son who is not in the news for the wrong reasons, but for using his God-given talent to entertain and inform the world."

Eric revealed recently how he prayed with Trinah Chisanga -- the Zambian whose dream ended when she lost the public vote last week. "Trinah was very supportive," Eric said, "we prayed together and she even got her church to pray for me."
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