After Port Harcourt, Benin Auditions, Nigerian Idol Train Moves To Abuja

THOUGH the main contest is usually the centre of attraction in the Nigerian Idol TV reality show, those who follow the show would know that the audition process is always full of drama and excitement. From thousands of applicants that usually throng the audition venue to those who wow the judges with super renditions, there’s always that drama point, when you still find some crooning off key and still filling cool.

     Really, sitting through such sessions could be both fun and frustrating for the judges; you get to laugh and also worry if some people really listen to themselves. Notwithstanding, this is the most important part of the reality show; the quality of the contestants, to a very large extent, determines the outcome of the show. 

    Meanwhile, the nationwide auditions of the Nigerian Idol season 5 currently on-going in select Nigerian cities have been successfully concluded in two of the five host centres; the ancient city of Benin and Port Harcourt. The auditions were anchored by the three celebrity judges, renowned Afrobeat sensation, Dede Mabiaku, Vocalist Yinka Davies and R’n’ B crooner, Dare ‘Art’ Alade. 

       At the two centers, thousands of youths with talents in music thronged the venues for exercises, which were designed multi-layered with a view to selecting the overall hundred most outstanding talents.

      Speaking about his experience, Dare ‘Art’ Alade described it as impressive and a positive indicator of a thrilling season ahead.  

    “The Benin and Port Harcourt centres have thrown up a lot of talents; it just shows how exciting this season is going to be. There is a lot of competition-new voices, new faces… I can’t wait to hear them blossom and go up the ranks I guess top 100 as we whittle down to the finalists later on as the weeks go bye,” he said.

    Done with Port Harcourt and Benin, the train now moves to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where thousands of applicants are expected to prove themselves in front of the three judges. 

      Now in it’s fifth edition, Yeka Onka won the debut show in 2010. In the following years, which saw the emergence of Mercy Chinwo, Moses Adigwe and Zebili Evelyn (Evelle), it has grown in popularity and followership on the basis of the unique platforms it offers to young Nigerians with exceptional music talent. It is the only music TV reality show in Nigeria with a global appeal that currently cuts across 46 countries.

     The show focuses on discovering Nigerian youths with talent in music and giving them a unique platform to take shots at stardom. The eventual winner goes home with N7.5 million cash reward, a brand new car, a recording deal worth N7.5 million and some high-end devices. Auditions are expected to continue with the FCT, Abuja playing host in the weekend of January 24 -25 at the Bolton White Hotel. Ibadan and Lagos are to follow in the following weeks. It would be recalled the Benin and Port Harcourt auditions have been concluded. 

    Nigerian Idol season five is sponsored by leading telecommunications operator, Etisalat, Dabur toothpaste and E-Commerce platform, Payporte and will feature such enthralling performances which were the hallmarks of past winners among whom are Yeka Onka, Mercy Chinwo, Moses Adigwe and Zibili Evelyn who goes by the stage name Evelle.