You could have been forgiven for thinking that she had lost a loved one. As she left the audition room, she kicked out her high heels and launched into uncontrolled wailing. She thrust her handbag onto the pavement and leaned onto a concrete pillar, as friends rushed to console her.

A scene from Tusker Project Fame and (inset) celebrity judge Ian Mbugua This image of Sipherile Chitambo, an 18-year-old Malawian reacting to dejection by the judges in the reality TV show Mnet Idols, sunk the hearts of many participants and viewers of the programme around Africa.

She had everything to look out for in a diva - a sexy look, confidence and most important, a sweet voice. Indeed Angela Angwenyi, one of the judges complemented her looks, which only boosted her confidence, before a short karaoke session that would be her ticket to the second round of the competition. But it was not to be as the three judges - Angela (Kenya), Thato Matlhabaphiri aka Scar (Botswana) and Trevor "TK" Siyandi (Zambia) unanimously told her "No", thus triggering her tantrums.

Many viewers felt for Sipherile, as her mother tried to console her: "Just be strong and try something else. I will always be there for you." It was the three judges' final audition session in a seven-city tour that was the first stage in scouting for the potential next Idol. Meanwhile, in Nairobi, Tusker Project Fame 2 had celebrity judge Ian Mbugua earning his usual cheers and jeers for his trademark brusque comments to the contestants.

Every time he picks the microphone to give his feedback, an aura of uncertainty envelops the contestant. Not so with the other judges - the burly deadlocked Ugandan Tshaka and Kiondo from Tanzania. They are perceived to be less severe in their remarks. The two TV shows are meant to hone youth singing talent with cash and a recording deal awaiting the eventual winner.

Second season

Tusker Project Fame 2 (TPF2) is now in its second season and is open for contestants in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Idols is a spin-off of the global programme started in Britain in 2001. It auditioned in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The show is now heading for a crucial stage where contestants will be saved by votes from the public; comments by the judges do not count at this stage.

The two shows adopt a different format and setting but have a similar goal - to get that talented vocalist with a potential to be a best-selling singer. Both shows have not been lacking in humour, with judges offering us equal entertainment as the contestants. But while the entertainment by the contestants has been coming in the form of singing talent (or lack of it), that from the judges has appealed to our morbid senses, thanks to the oft snide remarks. "If you do that one more time, I won't be responsible for what will happen to you," Soft Makutepa, a contestant from Malawi was admonished by Scar.

Compared to other remarks from the judges, this was like a complement. "That's the worst I have seen in this competition," was the raw observation by TK on 20-year-old Taman Kiondo's rendition of Akon's "Lonely".

Blatantly rude

Others have been blatantly rude. "You sing karaoke?" one of the contestants was asked.

"Yes," he replied. "Stick to that." "I'm not going through?" "Yes you are. Through that door!" (The exit) Such remarks have elicited quite a response on the Idols' blog, open for viewers of the programme around Africa. "The judges should drop their attitude and at least tend towards being human. The comments they give the contestants should not be to discourage them but to give them confidence," one blogger wrote.

Another takes issue with the judges' sarcastic facial expressions, and hits back in their own coin. "The facial expressions of these judges is terrible. They just look like a bunch of tired humans who are bored at work." Yet another reminds the judges that "this is Africa they should learn how to talk to people." In fact, the snide remarks may be doing the contestants more harm than good.

Dr Gidraph Wairire, a lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Nairobi, says this destructive criticism negatively affects the self image of the young people, where they fail to visualise themselves as potential artistes growing up, and instead dwells on the negatives about themselves.

Two months ago, German Pop Idols, another Idols spin-off, was under the radar after a 17-year-old contestant suffered a mental breakdown due to the pressure of rejection by the judges. Dr Wairire says that often, the judges fail to acknowledge that by the contestant having advanced to such a stage in the competition, it's in itself evidence that he or she has talent. The judges parody the Pop Idol and American Idol host Simon Cowell so much so that nearing the close of the auditions for Idols, Angela kissed fellow judge Scar, an imitation of Cowell kissing another judge Paula Abdul on American Idol. But even viewers agree that Cowell's benchmark for snide remarks is yet to be unparalleled.

"My advice would be if you want to pursue a career in the music business, don't"/ "Did you really believe you could become the American Idol? Well, then, you're deaf"/"You remind me of a wasp"/ "You look like a bush baby," are some of the things he said to the contestants. Cedric Ndambala, one of the four finalists in the TPF1, says that they were forewarned that they would be under a lot of pressure. The warning was not specific, until Cedric met Ian, the judge. "Some of the remarks were personal and tended to dwell on my dressing, not singing abilities.

But can the criticism be constructive and helpful? "Yes," says Dr Wairire. "This can be by telling the contestants in a very positive and kind way, their shortcomings."