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Shy looking seventeen-year-old Botswana rapper, Sibil Knight, real name Relebanye Khaya Magosi of Gaborone was on Saturday crowned the best African rapper at the Mnet's continental talent search, Emcees Africa.

Sibil Knight stole the show in front of an estimated 500 hip-hop heads who parted with P80 as entry fees for the Grand Finale. The triumph by the Gaborone rapper further outlines Botswana as the undisputed home of rap music in Africa, following similar victories by Scar Matlhabaphiri, and Mista Doe aka Foster Juliano, who won the continental and regional competitions over the last three years, ahead of rappers from South Africa and Nigeria.

The youngster, a form five student at Livingstone Kolobeng beat four other finalists from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Ghana in the grand finale held at the fashion Lounge, Phakalane Saturday night.  Originally the search for the best rapper saw 12 emcees from 12 countries knock one another out, before they were reduced to five for the Botswana grand finale.

As a reward for being the best the youngster spent the night at the Cresta Hotel and was on Sunday flown to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he will spend two days, Monday and Tuesday filming a video for his upcoming promotional song. The video will be aired on Channel O and other television channels. He is expected back in Gaborone this Wednesday, to continue his education at Kolobeng.

Sibil Knight, who explains he started rapping at the age of 11 in Jwaneng, where he grew up, walked away with P100 000, or US$ 10 000, as well as R12 000 clothing by hip-hop wear Phat Farm, as well as a range of phones from the co-sponsors  My-phone.

As part of the winner's prizes, Sibil Knight, who says he grew up learning from rappers such as Apollo Diablo, and Oracle in Jwaneng, will also do a song with the reputable rappers who were in the panel of judges for the emcees' Africa Mnet talent search.

The  rappers in the panel included  Hip-hop Pantsula, Proverb (RSA), Nazizi (Kenya), Naeto.C (Nigeria), and Zeus (Botswana).

The 17 year old says he has no album under his belt except for featuring once in an album in  Zimbabwe, where he did his Form III. Otherwise  Sibil Knight says he has been releasing what he terms mix tapes, since 2007, which he sells from the boot of his car.

" I have no producer, no proper studio, although the material I recorded could have  easily made it into a commercial album." He however says he will feature in forthcoming albums by Zeus and Apollo Diablo.

Asked what he intends to do now that Mnet has sponsored a song and video for him,  Sibil Knight said he would cross the bridge when he gets there. According to Mnet's emcee Africa associate producer for the Botswana region,  Tshepo "Rox' Sikwane,  Mnet Channel, Channel O, will not own the rights to the song or video, but would surrender both finished products to the  rising star. ' it is up to the boy really to see what he does with those finished products, but  Channel O is helping him with professional video production, as well as musicians to feature in his song," Rox told Showtime.

The youngster described his feat as remarkable. ' I stepped into the competition eyes closed...I proved myself to be potent..,'  he said in  a phone interview from his hotel Sunday, moments before he flew out to record his music video in Johannesburg.