MTN Project Fame fires two Contestants

The race for the emergence of the latest West African music superstars took a definite turn, last weekend, when two of the 16 contestants, in the MTN Project Fame academy, were eliminated. Sierra Leonean Leonard Massaquoi and Calabar-based Oluchi Isreal became the first contestants to be evicted from the music reality show, having been earlier nominated for elimination alongside Ayoka, Rowland, and Simeon. Where Simeon received the highest votes, by viewers, to remain in the academy, Rowland got the Faculty’s nod to continue on the show, while majority of the other 11 contestants favoured Ayoka.

It was nothing short of suspense, as West Africa stood still, for the eventual announcement of the first two evictees, from the most popular and productive reality show across the West African sub-region. Report has it that Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and, even, Nigeria, were overwhelmingly awash with the discourse of who would vacate the academy. Feelers, from Sierra Leone, confirmed that the ardent followers of the reality show held a vigil, seeking divine intervention for the nation’s representative, Leonard Massaquoi.

In Nigeria, where the musical academy is located, youths, especially students, who are currently out of school, have found a most interesting respite in the daily broadcast of the show. A student of the University of Lagos expressed her delight over the timeliness of the show. For her, apart from making out time for extra-curricular activities, ‘the reality show helps me recreate and lessen the depressing feeling of boredom’. At least two contestants, in this year’s edition of the reality show, are students of the higher institution, located in Lagos.

Margaret Cephas and David Crentsil, two highly talented contestants from Liberia and Ghana, respectively, have left their countries something to cheer about. Their performances have been largely enthralling. David Crentsil, though shy, has shown tremendous vocal and personal improvement. The justification of that could be found in the judges’ constructive criticism and useful commentaries. Specifically, TY-Mix and Bibie Brew have taken turns to offer positive appraisals of the young Ghanaian. Margaret’s growth and confidence left no one in doubt that she can go far, in the academy. In the mean time, Ghana and Liberia, like Nigeria, have a lot to hope for.

Meanwhile, one contestant will be joining the academy, from the wild card ‘window of opportunity’. The contestant will emerge from the list of five ‘wild card finalists’ who were paraded on the show, last weekend. Whereas, they have, each, been given fair opportunities to perform before the judges, faculty members and viewers, the lucky contestants will be picked, based on nothing other than vocal qualities, performance and viewers preference.