Afrobeats reality show ‘Naija Star Search’, hosted by rapper and broadcaster VJ Adams, is now airing on Africa-focused media company StarTimes.
LAGOS, NIGERIA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Nigerian rapper and broadcaster VJ Adams will host a reality show for undiscovered Nigerian artists called ‘Naija Star Search’ on Africa-centric media company StarTimes.
- The Afrobeats reality show ‘Naija Star Search’ is being aired by StarTimes, a media company focused on Africa. The show is hosted by rapper and broadcaster VJ Adams.
- For 13 weeks, the ‘Naija Star Search’ contest will be running. A winner will receive a prize package including 10M naira (about $23 000) and an artist development program at Kennis Music, among other things, and it is geared toward discovering singers between the ages of 18 and 35.
- Kennis Music founder Kenny Ogungbe, producer ID Cabasa, and reggae-dancehall artist Asha Gangali will serve as judges for the competition, in which contestants will perform covers of popular Afrobeats songs.
- The Naija Star Search airs every Sunday at 8 p.m. on ST Nollywood Plus, ST Nollywood, and ST Yoruba on StarTimes as well as the StarTimes-ON app.
On Sunday, the ‘Naija Star Search’ contest premiered and will run for 13 weeks. The contest seeks to identify singers between the ages of 18 and 35, and the ultimate winner will receive a prize package worth 10 million nairas (about $23 000) along with an artist development program at the Kennis Music label.
Competition contestants will cover popular Afrobeats songs while being mentored by industry veterans including Kennis Music founder Kenny Ogungbe, producer ID Cabasa and reggae-dancehall artist Asha Gangali.
From 17 emerging acts gathered across Nigeria, the judges of the ‘Naija Star Search’ are currently selecting seven finalists. The list includes Sparrowh, TOMs, MB Dre, Specko and Kachi, Jaydbody, Greysky, Denerio, Esjay, Thekhaleed and Skimzo, eMzez, Eniolá, Black Bella, SKIFFY, Melo and Jazzman.
“Naija Star Search is fashioned to be an exclusive Afrobeats show, the first of its kind in the country,” Tunde Aina, chief operating officer for StarTimes, said at the program’s launch this month.
“Naija Star Search is fashioned to be an exclusive Afrobeats show, the first of its kind in the country,” Tunde Aina, StarTimes’ chief operations officer, announced earlier this month.
“Ultimately, the goal is to discover the next promising talents with the potential to blow. Top performing talents will work with Kennis Music, who will groom, mentor, produce and market their songs to a music-loving audience in Nigeria and Africa.”
The show’s judges include Kenny Ogungbe, the executive director of a music label; ID Cabasa, an emerging music producer; and Asha Gangali, the singer.
“We want to make this platform where the next generation of Afrobeats stars are discovered and nurtured,” Cabas stated.
“So we are looking out for talents who will not just be a flash in the pan but have longevity and at the same time, still preserve the Afrobeats sound.”
“To promote an artiste now, you would need millions of naira. This platform was set up to push them even when they didn’t have that push. So, any outstanding talent in this reality show would come out with great potential. We will be training them on songwriting, how to record their songs and how to sustain themselves in the industry since it’s easier to blow than sustain oneself in the industry.”
In his own words, Kenny Ogungbe said:
“Afrobeats will never die. The people sustaining it now are in their mid-20s and 30s. To sustain it, we need to groom new talents in their teens so that in the next 10 years, we will still have those holding it. We are here for the future to project the beauty of Naija music”.
Watch ‘Naija Star Search’ on StarTimes
Every Sunday at 8 p.m., Naija Star Search airs on ST Nollywood Plus, ST Nollywood, and ST Yoruba channels on StarTimes, as well as on the StarTimes-ON app.
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