South Africa in Theo's Song Contest

South Africa participated in Theo's Song Contest in every single edition since edition 1. It has only ever qualified once, and has never won nor hosted the contest. 
== Background ==
Theo's Song Contest is a international fan contest based on Eurovision held by the fictional Theo's Broadcasting Union (TBU). Each country is claimed by real people, and they send a song, the people then vote for their countries favourite song. Since the beginning, Theo's Song Contest has been open to every country that has sent in an application. South Africa is what is known as an "Automatic Entrant" which means that is guaranteed a spot in the contest. It is also considered one of the weakest Automatic Entrants, having one of the lowest qualification rates
==Participation History==
Edition	Entrant 	Song 	Language 	Final 	Points 	Semi	Points
1 	The Joy 	"Umakoti Ungowethu" 	Zulu 	Didn't Qualify	Didn't Qualify	16th	2
2 	Elaine 	"Shine" 	English 	Didn't Qualify	Didn't Qualify	12th	13
3 	Doja Cat 	"Say So" 	English 	10th 	133 	1st 	32
4 	Mafikizolo ft. Sjava 	"10K" 	Zulu 	Didn't Qualify	Didn't Qualify	15th	7
5 	Elaine 	"Fading Away" 	English 	Didn't Qualify	Didn't Qualify	16th	2
6 	Connor Price & K.Keed	"Blue Shell" 	English 	Didn't Qualify	Didn't Qualify	18th	25
7 	Kurt Darren 	"Meisiesfontein" 	Afrikaans	Didn't Qualify	Didn't Qualify	19th	11
8 	Freshlyground 	"Castles" 	English 	Didn't Qualify	Didn't Qualify	15th	41
9 	Mariam Makeba 	"Qongqothwane (The Click Song)"	Xhosa 	Didn't Qualify	Didn't Qualify	13th	48
10 	Tyla 	"To Last" 	English 	Didn't Qualify	Didn't Qualify	16th	32
==Edition 1 participation==
South Africa chose SABC to be their broadcaster. They selected The Joy to be their representatives edition 1, in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
The Joy are an all-male a Capella group based in Hammarsdale. The song selected was "Umakoti Ungowethu." There is little information about the song, but we can assume that it is a love song. They brought nothing on stage and the background was a light blue. The song performed 17th in the 2nd Semi-Final and they came 16th, failing to qualify for the Grand Final. 
Points awarded by South Africa at Theo's Song Contest edition 1
Score 	Country
12 points	South Korea
10 points	Sweden
8 points 	Switzerland
7 points 	Canada
6 points 	Cuba
5 points 	Germany
4 points 	Australia
3 points 	United States
2 points 	Vietnam
1 point 	New Zealand
==Edition 2 participation==
SABC chose Elaine to represent South Africa for Melbourne, Australia edition 2.
The song chosen was "Shine". It is a slow ballad song about love. On stage, Elaine was accompanied with a bedroom that she was in, along with a diamond-studded microphone that she held. The backdrop was glimmering diamonds. The song performed 13th in the Second Semi-Final, and came 12th, failing to qualify for the Grand Final.
Points awarded by South Africa at Theo's Song Contest edition 2
Score 	Country
12 points	Japan
10 points	Greece
8 points 	China
7 points 	France
6 points 	Egypt
5 points 	Switzerland
4 points 	Spain
3 points 	Norway
2 points 	Chile
1 point 	United Kingdom
==Edition 3 participation==
SABC decided to go big for edition 3, hosted in London, United Kingdom
The song selected was "Say So" by Doja Cat. The song is a pop rap song about flirting and inviting a stranger with whom she feels a connection to come over and talk to her. On stage, Doja cat was accompanied with a bed of flowers and a hesitant male. The song performed 4th in the First Semi-Final, coming 1st with 32 points. The song then performed 6th in the Grand Final, coming 10th overall, with 133 points. Additionally, it gave South Africa it's only qualification to the Grand Final to date.
Points awarded by South Africa at Theo's Song Contest edition 3
Score 	Country
12 points	Czech Republic
10 points	South Korea
8 points 	United States
7 points 	Germany
6 points 	Poland
5 points 	Ireland
4 points 	Spain
3 points 	Estonia
2 points 	Greece
1 point 	Italy
==Edition 4 participation==
SABC chose South African Duo Mafikizolo for their song edition 4, hosted in Athens, Greece.
The song chose was "10K" which features South African rapper Sjava. It is an Afro-pop song about undying love. On stage, they were accompanied with a dinner table that their 'family' sat around. The song performed 14th in the First Semi-Final, coming 15th, failing to qualify for the Grand Final.
Points awarded by South Africa at Theo's Song Contest edition 4
Score 	Country
12 points	United States
10 points	Netherlands
8 points 	Greece
7 points 	Cyprus
6 points 	Israel
5 points 	Spain
4 points 	North Macedonia
3 points 	United Kingdom
2 points 	France
1 point 	Germany
==Edition 5 participation==
After Elaine was a fan favourite edition 2, SABC tried again for Lyon, France in edition 5.
Elaine participated with the song "Fading Away". The song is a ballad about being caught in a toxic relationship. On stage, Elaine was accompanied with a dark blue shower curtain, that casted a shadow of her, and her diamond-studded microphone. The background was dark blue and with blue lights surrounding the stage. The song performed 17th in the First Semi-Final, where it came 16th, failing to qualify for the Grand Final.
Points awarded by South Africa at Theo's Song Contest edition 5
Score 	Country
12 points	Morocco
10 points	United Kingdom
8 points 	San Marino
7 points 	Vatican City
6 points 	Mexico
5 points 	France
4 points 	Sweden
3 points 	Cyprus
2 points 	Italy
1 point 	Egypt
==Edition 6 participation==
SABC tried something different for edition 6, hosted in Manchester, United Kingdom.
They chose American rapper Connor Price and South African hip hop artist K.Keed. The song is a rap song about being who you are. On stage, it was just them in front of a white background, and some dancers. The song performed 6th in the First Semi-Final, and came 18th, failing to qualify for the Grand Final. 
Points awarded by South Africa at Theo's Song Contest edition 6
Score 	Country
12 points	South Korea
10 points	Canada
8 points 	Germany
7 points 	Belgium
6 points 	Italy
5 points 	United States
4 points 	Greece
3 points 	India
2 points 	Luxembourg
1 point 	Lithuania
==Edition 7 participation==
SABC went for the first Afrikaans song edition 7 in Corfu, Greece.
The song selected was "Meisiesfontein" by South African rugby player turned singer Kurt Darren. The song is a pop/dance song about a fictional city where all the pretty girls live. On stage, Darren was joined with a giant L.E.D background of beautiful scenery, supposed to represent the scenery of Meisiesfontein, along with female backup dancers aged between 18-30 in bikinis dancing around him. There was also lots of coloured lights The song performed 11th in the First Semi-Final, and came 19th, failing to qualify for the Grand Final. 
Points awarded by South Africa at Theo's Song Contest edition 7
Score 	Country
12 points	Spain
10 points	Austria
8 points 	Palau
7 points 	Argentina
6 points 	Greece
5 points 	Canada
4 points 	United Kingdom
3 points 	South Korea
2 points 	Sweden
1 point 	Somalia
==Edition 8 participation==
SABC chose a song for edition 8, hosted in Glasgow, United Kingdom
They chose "Castles" by South African group Freshlyground, known for being the backup singers for Shakira's "Waka Waka". The song is a pop song about Love, hope and uncertainty in relationships. On stage, it was just them and some children playing in a sandpit that the camera occasionally cut to, and dark brown L.E.Ds. The song performed 10th in the first Semi-Final and came 15th, failing to qualify for the Grand Final.
Points awarded by South Africa at Theo's Song Contest edition 8
Score 	Country
12 points	Nigeria
10 points	United Kingdom
8 points 	Spain
7 points 	Poland
6 points 	South Korea
5 points 	Australia
4 points 	Arandelle
3 points 	Palau
2 points 	Italy
1 point 	Thailand
==Edition 9 participation==
SABC sent their first Xhosa song for Edition 9, hosted in Brisbane, Australia
The song selected was "Qongqothwane (The Click Song)" by South African singer Mariam Makeba. The song is an A Capella song about marriage. On stage, Makeba was joined with a microphone stand and a black-and-white filter. The song performed 8th in the First Semi-Final, and came 13th, failing to qualify for the Grand Final. 
Points awarded by South Africa at Theo's Song Contest edition 9
Score 	Country
12 points	Nigeria
10 points	Germany
8 points 	Japan
7 points 	South Korea
6 points 	Italy
5 points 	Brazil
4 points 	Ukraine
3 points 	Vietnam
2 points 	Romania
1 point 	Palau
== Edition 10 participation ==
South Africa tried again to qualify in Nagaski, Japan, where edition 10 was hosted.
The song selected was "To Last" by South African singer Tyla. The head of SABC, Nomsa Chabeli, mentioned that Tyla is "A popular singer who can what is best for us". The song is a pop song about a broken relationship. On stage, Tyla was joined with dancers, and a light wall. The song performed 20th in the First Semi-Final and came 16th, failing to qualify for the Grand Final.
Points awarded by South Africa at Theo's Song Contest edition 10
Score 	Country
12 points	Greece
10 points	Mexico
8 points 	Saint Lucia
7 points 	Canada
6 points 	New Zealand
5 points 	South Korea
4 points 	Nigeria
3 points 	Cyprus
2 points 	France
1 point 	Italy