After several weeks of rigorous nationwide auditions, the
MTN powered Project Fame Academy has finally unveiled the 16 contestants who
will, once again, bring the sub-region to a standstill, with breath-taking
music renditions, week-in-week-out, for the next two months.
The expectations
that surrounded the opening show and gala were not unmet. Select contestants
treated the audience to songs by Alicia Keys and other popular artistes.
Remarkably, as well, Iyanya and Praiz, two popular artistes and alumni of the
reality show, graced the stage to stir memories of how they were nurtured into
super-stardom on the same platform.
Veteran Nollywood
artiste, Olu Jacobs, among other industry giants, spanning telecommunications,
oil and gas, manufacturing, media and the rest, were most thrilled as they kept
applauding the Project Fame season one graduates, all through their
performances.
Six among the new contestants gave a foretaste of what is
to be expected in the coming weeks. Staring eviction in the face, Gbemisola,
Veronica, Daniel, Niniola, Olawale and Johnny needed to convince the panel of
judges that they deserved a place in the academy. While they took turns to make
a possible last impression through various renditions from popular artistes,
only four of them got the judges’ nods to join the other 12 contestants.
Veronica and Daniel could not deliver such master-strokes that would have given
them the ‘heads up’ to be part of this year’s academy. Gbemisola, Niniola,
Olawale and Johnny joined the academy.
Now, 16 contestants will be competing for honours in the
music academy. The contestants are Blessing, Simon Ekechukwu, Omolayo Babawale,
Janet Ayoka, Gbemisola Rowland, Johnny Drill Ighodaro, Niniola Apata,
Immaculate Patience, Henry McJohn, David Crentsil, Roland Ricketts, Leonard
Massaquoi, Oluchi Isreal, Jimoh Lucky, Olawale Ayodele Ojo and Margareth
Cephas.
Speaking to some of the contestants, their enthusiasm was
visible. They admitted that, having made it into the academy, they will give
each performance and each day their best.
Meanwhile, the wild-card entry is still open. Interestingly,
the MTN Project Fame has retained the trio of popular music producer, TY-Mix,
Ghanaian music legend, Bibie Brew and German-Nigerian Afro hip-hop veteran, Ade
Bantu as judges. For the academy’s
faculty, actress Joke Silva, Mrs. Ige, Choreographer Kaffy and Ben Ogbeiwi hold
the reins, as 10 weeks of scintillating and breath-taking performances, both
live at the studios and on national television stations, begin.
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