Six Music Superstars Contest for Top Position at the MTN Project Fame Grand Finale

Olawale, Immaculate, Omolayo, Rowland, Margaret and Niniola ensured their extraordinary talents and nine weeks of hard-work were not a waste. Confronted with the ingenuity of the twelve other contestants, at this year’s edition of the MTN Project Fame West Africa, the six finalists delivered, week-in-week-out, with admirable gusto and great musical performances that had the academy’s panel of judges, faculty members and the audience spread over the entire West African sub-region, commending their craftsmanship.

 Now, with the grand finale of the most popular musical reality show slated for Saturday 28^th of September, 2013, in Lagos, the degree of excitement, extraordinary musical craftsmanship and entertainment, in the past weeks, leaves the show’s teeming audience yearning for more, from the six contestants, who Joke Silva, the Principal of the musical reality show’S academy, referred to as ‘the powerful six’.

In a similar development, the social media, comprising Facebook and Twitter, have been awash with commentaries as an indication of an audience wishing that the show could continue. Some viewers are even calling for the organisers of the yearly talent contest to do a video compilation of this year’s performances and make it available for the ardent followers of the show, to retain footages of all the memorable moments, in the academy, including great renditions of classical African music, dance-hall, R and B and the like, that have endeared this year’ contestants to an endless list of fans.

Also, celebrities and hip-hop stars continue to shower encomiums on the contestants. Banky W., famed for his current ‘Yes/No’ single, said, ‘this year’s contestants performed as if they are superstars already’. Even Wizkid, who doubles as Pepsi and MTN brand ambassador, admitted this much: ‘these guys are good’. He, alongside Davido and ex-BBA housemate, Babalwa Mnemo, was seen partying with two of the show’s evicted contestants, at a night club, at Victoria Island, recently.

It, therefore, can be said that, once again, MTN Project Fame has proved that it is still the best musical reality show in the sub-region. With a clear intention of producing youthful entertainers that are fit for global exploits, the yearly contest has produced a lot of rookies who have been transformed by their stay in the academy. The basis for that is the show’s consistency in terms of content and personnel.

Take, for instance, Ben Ogbeiwi, TY-Mix, Bibie Brew, Miss Ige, Kaffy, Ade Bantu and Joke Silva – seven tested professionals with a proven artistic and musical background. This group continues to work tirelessly and relentlessly, all these years, to ensure that the academy produces the best.

Their efforts have not been unyielding. No fewer than eight past contestants of the reality show have risen to stardom, in different countries of West Africa, though the notable ones have been Iyanya, Praiz, Chidinma and Kesse.

It is, however, believed that with the amazing talents displayed by Immaculate and Olawale, aside from the resilience of Omolayo, Rowland, Margaret and Niniola, the grand finale will be an explosion as well as a revelation of another set of mega superstars who will announce the arrival of a new generation of musicians, who will, in turn, create a whole new experience in the music industry.

Interestingly, the industry is already yearning for the arrival of that generation of youths, who understand the terrain and can match their talents with exceptional character, which can only be acquired in the MTN Project Fame’s academy.

Meanwhile, by comparison, feelers from West Africa confirmed that this edition of the musical academy has been, by far, the most explosive. Statistics have shown that the show recorded more than 50% increase in viewership, especially, in countries like Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria where the student population have made it one of their favourite past-times. Like the celebrities, who have graced the show this year, the students have been thrilled by the contestants’ overall performances.