19 May 2025

Angelinah Joseph is the winner of My Star Botswana-Music Talent Show Season 17, following a thrilling finale held Friday at the Tlotlo Conference Centre in Gaborone.
The finale was a showcase of pure talent, with the finalists delivering powerful quintet and solo performances, each contestant performing original songs only.
“For the first time in the history of this show, the top five sang, an original song written by myself,” said the show’s producer and director, Keabetswe Sesinyi, popularly known as Master Dee.
He emphasised the importance of investing in original content rather than relying on existing songs, as contestants had done in previous seasons.
Sesinyi also urged the government to prioritise the creative industry and gave past contestants as an example, some of whom were now working with the show, employed in national television, or pursuing careers in music and education.
In a highly competitive showdown, the five finalists vied for a spot in the top three, that was snatched by Bruno Mporo, Bonitah Lekopanye and Angelinah Joseph. That brought them closer to the grand prize of P100 000. With 14 330 votes, Angelinah secured the top spot while Bruno and Bonitah walked away with P50 000 and P30 000 respectively. The remaining top five contestants, Mogakolodi Leepile and Princess Moyo, each received P15 000 and P10 000 respectively.
Joseph, a 34-year-old singer from Semitwe was surrounded by family and friends as she celebrated her win, expressing deep gratitude and sharing how spirituality had guided her throughout the competition.
 She plans to donate winter clothes to three underprivileged children, reward her backup dancers, and invest the rest of her winnings into her music career. Joseph also aims to enhance the services of her Talent Management Project, which mentors and grooms young people by helping them discover their talents.
“But my next move is definitely one that will make a positive impact in the creative industry, with the target group being children from the ages of six to late 20s,” she said.
Present at the finale was Minister of Sport and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng, who called on the private sector to support and invest in the creative industry and noting that government efforts alone were not sufficient.
“When we support local talent, we are not just celebrating art, we are building an industry, diversifying our economy,” and creating employment adding that My Star contributed to job creation. ENDS