Abuja buzzed with excitement on Saturday as aspiring artists thronged Sandralia Hotel, Jabi, for MTN’s Next Afrobeats Star auditions.
The Abuja leg followed the Lagos edition, held from September 5 to 8, 2025.
From as early as 7:00 am, hopefuls arrived with dreams and determination, eager to earn a spot in the competition that promises to launch Nigeria’s next big Afrobeats sensation.
Contestants came from across the country, including Benue and Calabar, convinced that the nation’s capital could deliver Afrobeats excellence.
For Jumoke Halima, a 2019 graduate from Ogun State, the contest represents a long-awaited breakthrough.
“Abuja has always been underrated when it comes to talent,” she said. “I’m here to represent myself and others, and to prove that Abuja has more talent than people think.”
Jumoke believes her identity as a woman is an advantage.
“Being female makes some people underrate me, but once I show my full abilities, they will see something different.”
Another contestant, Zephaniah David, a civil engineering graduate turned full-time musician, shared how setbacks nearly derailed his music career after he recorded his first track in 2013. Now as the leader of a band, he is determined to put Abuja’s sound on the global map.
“I want young people to know they can succeed in both academics and music. I want to represent excellence in every area,” he said, adding that Abuja’s creative scene deserves more recognition.
Cross River–born Godwin Williams, known as Big G, applied just two days before the audition but made it to the event.
Despite his early songs failing to gain traction in 2013, he has kept pushing.
“Many artists lose hope because they don’t get the right platform. That’s why I’m grateful to MTN’s Next Afrobeats Star for giving people like us a chance to show what we can do,” he said.
The atmosphere was electric as contestants performed freestyles to karaoke beats of Afrobeats hits, mixing rap, R&B, and Afro rhythms while chanting “MTN Superstar” ahead of the selection process.
“Today has been amazing so far. My hope is that we find the next Afrobeats star in Abuja,” said Joseph Ogbuka, MTN Nigeria’s Regional Manager.
He dismissed claims that Abuja is a quiet city: “I see the energy here. It’s cool, fun, and exciting.”
Explaining the audition process, Ogbuka said: “It is tough, but it has to be. We are looking for someone with originality, stage presence, voice, and energy. Afrobeats is global now, it is our sound, and we want the next star who can take it even further.”
