MTN Project Fame Set to Unveil a New Batch of Music SuperStars

AYO, MTN PF SEASON 5 WINNER

The stage is set for the unveiling of the 18 contestants who will be competing for honours and acclaim in the season six of MTN Project Fame West Africa music academy. Billed for the afternoon of July 27, at Ultima Studios, in Lekki, the contestants will be unveiled amid glamour and festivity, with a host of activities that include performances by Iyanya and Praiz.

Interestingly, the unveiling ceremony is, invariably, the music reality show’s opening gala. The contestants who are going into the academy will be performing, for the first time, before a live studio audience after which three will be evicted to set the tone for 13 weeks of great music and extraordinary performances, either at the studio or on terrestrial and cable television stations.

MTN Project Fame West Africa is Nigeria’s first music reality television show. Over the past five years, the show has, continuously, created delightful moments of breath-taking music performances by talented youths from across the West African sub-region. Viewers in Africa and the world, in general, keenly keep tabs on the development in the academy as well as the gradual maturity of the rookies who, amazingly, grow into superstars within a short span in the academy.

Examples abound. Iyanya and Praiz, two of Nigeria’s finest current music exports, were products of the reality show that is sponsored by MTN, to give talented youths the opportunity to maximise their talents, as well as make a huge impacts in the society through music.

Apart from the prize money, which runs into millions of Naira, and cars, top contestants in the academy are given career guidance and follow-up to ensure that their potential does not fade with the glitz that follow their unveiling as winners of the musical contest.

Therefore, this year, the tradition of providing essential life guidance, alongside music lessons, will continue, as a number of professionals from different fields ranging from finance to emotional management will be taking turns to lecture the contestants in a series of master-classes. MTN Project Fame combines entertainment and character-building. These time-honoured parameters distinguish MTN Project Fame from other reality shows.

This season, the faculty members, who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the academy, remain the same. The ebullient Joke Silva, a renowned actress and life coach, is the Principal of the faculty. She will be supported by Dupe Ige, the voice coach, and Ben Ogbeiwi who has been serving as the music director. The dance director and fitness coach for this season has not changed either she is the popular choreographer, Kaffy.

What is more remarkable? The judges are a blend of music directors and artistes. Ghanaian Bibie Brew is a well-travelled singer who had her childhood in France and was known for her exploits in Europe and Africa, in the late 90s. Ade Bantu has always been an audience delight. He was part of those who exported Afro hip-hop to Europe. The light-skinned German-Nigerian is working on various grassroots talent-building initiatives to support music in places like Ajegunle, in Lagos.

The third judge is TY-Mix, Nigeria’s A-list music producer. He has worked with most of Nigeria’s top artistes like Naeto C, Sound Sultan and more.

The season six of the MTN Project Fame West Africa promises to be thrilling, intriguing and entertaining as Africa awaits the emergence of a new set of music superstars who will keep up the tradition of dominance the region is currently experiencing around the world.