Another Captivating Time as Season II of MTN Project Fame West Africa Rolls On

Excitement clearly pervaded the faces of the attendees; some smiling and some chatting, as they strolled into Ultima Studios, in Ojodu-Lagos, venue of the opening gala night of the Season II of the MTN Project Fame West Africa competition, which kicked off penultimate Saturday, July 18, 2009.

Popular comedian, MC Bash, set the ball rolling on a happy note as he made every one laugh to his hilarious jokes. Dance Na The Main Thing (DNTMT), dance group of note, also wowed the audience as they swayed their bodies to Beyonce’s Single Ladies. But the fun had just begun. Soon it was time for ace comedian, I-go-die, to administer doses of his laughter pills. The attendees who were treated to a sumptuous cocktail could not but keep their foods down at this time, as the comedian thrilled them with rib-cracking jokes which sent everyone laughing their hearts out.

The show proper started with the duo of Benjamin Joseph and Adaora Oleh coming upstage to introduce themselves as the hosts. To help understand the screening processes, the audience is given the feel of what Adaora calls “the good, the bad, and the ugly auditions”. Performances by O fonkasibe singer DJ Zeal, Black Rose International and multiple awards winning Tu Face Idibia held the audience spellbound.

The judges who would be scrutinizing the performances of the contestants are Femi Aderibigbe aka Kwame, Abuja-based producer Temitayo Ibitoye and international singer Bibie Brew from Ghana.

To help the contestants beef up their acts through various levels of training are the faculty members. They are veteran actress Joke Sylvia, who is the Principal of the academy, director of music Ben Ogbeiwi, vocal coach Dupe Ige and choreographer Zara Udofia.

Having selected 18 out of the thousands who participated at the auditioning, 3 were dropped during the event, leaving 15 to move into the academy- no holds barred.

The 15 contestants are Samantha from Liberia; Madonna, who “sees no one as a threat”; Tomiwa from Lagos, who “loves changes”; 24 year old Kreamy, who describes herself as “big bold and beautiful”; Jennifer from Kaduna, who believes she “will go far”; Denise from Ghana, who says “I feel privileged to be on the show”; Anise from Sierra Leone, who says he “is unique”; Savannah from Lagos, who hopes the show will be worth her while; and David, also from Lagos, who believes he’s got “style and texture”.

Others are, Zoe from Enugu, a radio presenter; Mike from Lagos, who believes he’s “got the swag”; quiet looking Nicholas from Liberia; Desmond from Lagos, who has a semblance of Kwame’s face and Reuben Studard’s height and size; and Tare from Abuja, who describes herself as “simple”. The 3 contestants who were dropped are Felicia from Sierra Leone, Raymond from Ghana and Marylyn from Enugu.

The event came to an end with a promise that the next 10 weeks will be captivating.

To keep their favourite contestants in the academy, fans should log unto www. Projectfamewestafrica.com. Viewers can also watch the day to day activities of the academy on AIT, MITV, Nigezie and Soundcity. Meanwhile, last weekend, the 15 contestants took turns to show a bit of the stuff they are made of, delivering scintillating performances. At the end of the day, four of them were placed on probation. But the heat is just about to start!