MTN SET TO DAZZLE WITH PROJECT FAME WEST AFRICA- SEASON 4
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By Pholamie
When MTN came into to the Nigerian corporate market 10years ago, little did Nigeria know about the company’s plan to endear itself to the heart of the citizens.
Project fame West Africa started out in 2008 with Iyanya, a Nigeiran, emerging as the winner of the maiden edition.
Another season is set to kick off and this season promises to bring greater entertainment to the screens.
According to a press release by MTN Project Fame, International rapper ‘Game’ and R ‘n’ B sensation Brandy are set to grace the opening of this season. Multiple award winning Nigerian artist D’banj and other A’list artists including past project fame winners are also set to perform at the opening gala and concert.
MEET THE HOST
MTN project fame seems keen on retaining the services Lagos born actor and T.V presenter Benjamin Joseph. Joseph debuts his acting career with ‘Tales by moonlight’. Partnering him on the stage is Adora Oleh. Having worked with big time media outfits like MTV and Channel 4 in the U.K, Adora fits faultlessly with Joseph on the stage.
LAWFUL JUDGES
Saddled with the responsibility of appraising performances of contestants and reprimanding the under-performing ones, the project fame judges are reverend by the contestants.
Leading the pack is Bibie Brew. She is an award winning international artist known through her Hit ‘Tout doucement’ that topped the French charts in the 1980’s. She has recorded and released 5 major albums and 42 singles in France and the whole of Europe.
Tee- Y Mix, is a name that is popular in the Nigerian music industry. The ace producer has proved beyond doubt that he is a force to reckon with having worked magic with the likes of Sasha, Dare art Alade to name a few.
Singer, songwriter, and producer Olumuyiwa Osinuga aka nomoreloss couldn’t have been a better pick. He adds a jovial tone to the duties of the judges with his humorous personality. His debut album in 1999 Kilode. was a national hit which stayed on the countdown and billboards across Nigeria for a record of eight {8} months and was number one for 26 weeks.
CEO VIRTUAL MEDIA NETWORK (OWNERS OF NIGEZIE AND TEN) is hard to please. Kwame started off with Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) and he later moved on to Star Fm where he held down both morning and drive time belts. The one time presenter of the year started his own TV programme called Global Sounds and in 2007, he started Nigezie which runs on the HITV platform both in Nigeria and in the UK on Sky channel 204.
FACULTY TOO
Professional dancer and choreographer Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau is a Guinness World Record holder. Kaffy as she is popularly known led a group of 29 other dancers to smashing the previous record of 52 hrs 4mins at 53 hrs 40mins.
She has appeared in several music videos working with stars like Adewale Ayuba, Lexydoo, Sunny Nneji, Ruggedman, P-Square, to mention a few.
Dupe Ige Kachi or Ige is an electrical/electronics engineer and an alumnus of the University of Lagos. Being born into a family of music lovers, she has always appreciated all forms of music. Hence her membership in several church choir groups (Convenant Christian Center choir and several Anglican Church Choirs) and participation in major concerts like ‘The Experince’, African- American concert and also several MTN jingles and songs. She has worked with the likes of Cobhams, Rymzo e.t.c
Fitness is critical to a successful performance and that is why Kayode Emmanuel Ogundepo has been on the faculty since inception. He is an Exercise Physiology Graduate of the Lagos State University and has worked with notable personalities like the former Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom state and his wife. He is currently the Managing Director of Body Shapers Fitness Services.
Benneth Ogbeiwi A vocal expert, music coordinator (both spiritual & secular), vocal arranger, voice-over artiste and “KING OF MEAN” of the Project Fame Academy. As a choir boy in the Catholic Church, an opportunity to audition for the STEVE RHODES VOICES opened up for him. The late Elder Steve Rhodes took him through the rigours of professional vocal training in the contemporary and jazz genres and he has since not looked back in this rich field of commercial and personal choice of career. Uncle Ben as he is known is the conductor of the SR ORCHESTRA, an ensemble of trained musicians put together by the music icon, composer and arranger, ELDER STEVE RHODES.
Some of his achievements are notable in performances at; World Music Day (1999), Crack Ya Ribs (2003), Naughty By Nature Concert, MBGN, Heineken (Lagos & P/H), Night of a Thousand Laughs, Kojo Williams, MTN Valentine Party to name a few.
Joke Silva has had a successful career as an actress on stage, film, television and radio primarily in Nigeria with stints in England (BBC, British Film Institute, Royal Court Theatre Sloan sq) and the South of France. An actor of International repute, she was in Canada in 2008 where she participated in the African Theatre Ensemble (ATE) Black History month production “Have you seen Zandile” written by Gcina Mhlophe.
Mummy J, as she is fondly called is an alumnus of Holy Child College, Obalende, Weber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts, London, University of Lagos Akoka and Fate Foundation, Ijora. A member of the National Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN), Conference of Motion Pictures Practitioners (CMPP), and Film Makers Cooperatives, Association of Licensed Distributors and Actors Guild of Nigeria.
STUDENTS
Having gone around West Africa in search of prospective contestants, the judges at various auditioning centers ought to be proud of themselves for a job well done. With a once in a lifetime opportunity given to the prospective contestants, it remains to be seen if they would live up to the expectation of the judges who selected them.
LIGHTS, CAMERA ACTION
Season 4 of MTN project fame kicks off with the opening gala at the Expo hall, Eko hotel and suites on the 2nd of October 2011 and contestants are scheduled to spend 10weeks under the training of the faculty and supervision of the judges. In all, it promises to be a wonderful show and be rest assured entertainment at its best.
