Two Malawian contestants in the regional music contest My Booth will know their fate after the competition’s grand finale slated for this Sunday.

After three months of emotional rollercoaster and 15 episodes aired on both DStv and GOtv, the curtain is finally set to fall on the competition at The Radisson Blu Lusaka in Zambia.

Out of the four finalists, one winner will walk away with a cash prize of $50 000 and a recording deal.

Musicians Joe Kellz and Chisomo Chimoto are Malawi’s flag carriers in the competition and they are up against Zambia’s Evans Vic Ndalama and Roy The Songster. Both Joe Kellz and Chimoto hailed the lessons they have learnt through the competition.

Speaking in an interview from Lusaka yesterday, Joe Kellz said the competition had a lot of talented artists.He said it is inevitable for one to feel tensed and nervous as they head into the final.

“The best lesson I have learnt is that I need to put in a lot of work to sharpen my craft. I have met a lot of talented people throughout the competition, but all of them had one characteristic which is their belief in practice,” he said.

The Moyo hitmaker said he rates his chances of winning the competition at 50-50, considering the talent that he is up against.

On her part, Chimoto said: “In a group of 15 people, I have learnt that each one is unique in terms of music talent. I have also learnt to adjust and work in a group of people. Come Sunday, I am hopeful that I will carry the day.”

The competition is being run by Pan-African music label Elation Entertainment and in a separate interview, its chief executive officer Sokwani Chilembo said there has been a lot of excitement and competitiveness shown by the contestants.

He said: “They have been working very hard with the band. In the final challenge one of the tasks that the contestants face is to do an original composition. These are the songs that will represent the region beyond the booth.

“Everyone really wants it. From what we have seen, everyone is hungry for the top prize and each one is working extra hard. The mood is great.”

Chilembo said on Sunday, the four finalists will be joined by one wildcard who is one of the evicted contestants upon the recommendation of the judges to take the number of finalists to five. The elimination will take place until one person remains in the booth.

“Going by the results, we are satisfied with the work we have done through the show. It has been amazing and a testament of how strong the region is in terms of live music,” he said.

The competition pulled together 15 contestants, five each from Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. After periodic evictions, the four made it to the last stage of the competition.