Idols Befalls West Africa

When news came that, there is an introduction of a new concept produced for M-Net by Pan African and International Entertainment Company, Fremantle Media, the originators of the Idols concept, interested entrants only thanked their star for given them that golden opportunity to also walk on the corridors stardom and perform for millions of viewers worldwide on M-Net.

On December 1 2006, M-Net announced the creation of a West African version of what is arguably the world?s biggest reality show - Idols.

Idols West Africa arrived, and the search for a solo singing sensation who will win a prestigious recording contract began.

Idols West Africa is open to any person between the ages of 18 and 30 (as of 1 January 2007), who are residents of any of the West African countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

In a statement they issued, the organizers made it clear that would-be entrants should not have an existing recording contract of any kind and that during the audition phase, entrants can sing from a wide spectrum of music including Traditional, Western, English, Nigerian, African, Pop, Reggae, R?n'B and Rock.

But above all Idols entrants should be aware that the show is looking for a pop star.

If a contestant is selected to proceed into the Theatre, Group and Top Ten phases, they must be able to sing in Pop both African and Western, including English language songs. A firm believer in Idols West Africa, M-Net Operations Director for Sub-Saharan Africa Joseph Hundah says the show embraces Africa?s lasting love-affair with music.

?Wherever you go in West Africa, there are songs in the air, voices in harmony, a radio humming, a rhythm being celebrated. That?s what Idols is about. Singing, moving, feeling! With West Africa offering large television audiences to M-Net, it?s fitting that we create an Idols here.? Mr. Joseph Hundah stated.

Nigerians chain of auditions ended on Saturday, January 13 2007. Out of the thousands of contestants who pitched up hoping for international stardom, only 47 talented youngsters were selected by the judges for the next stage of the show in Planet 1, Ikeja, Lagos. Here in Ghana, auditions took place at The Guest Hotel, East Lagon in Accra, on 20th and 21st January.

Like all Idol auditions in any part of the world, thousands of wonnabe stars trooped to the venue to at least feel the breeze of the world?s famous Idol show, which most them have being watching on TV for years. As early as 5am the outside car park of The Guest Hotel was filled with thousands of youngsters waiting to be auditioned.

In a much tensed atmosphere some were quietly reserved, pondering over how to impress the judges, others were as usual busy talking to all the beautiful around exchanging phone numbers. A few once who brought along instruments like guitar played and rehearsed with them, like a hand full of them who brought their personal instrumentals listened practice with it. Among familiar faces this reporter spotted include Hakeem, Maya and Ruth of mentor 1 fame, Ramzy of ?Stars of the future?, Ebenazer and Alhaji Grunsa from ?The search?. Its obvious none of them could sing their way through.

Judges for the day were our own Abrewa Nana Dorcas, Dede Mabiaku and Dan Foster from Nigeria. Finally in Ghana Six guys and three girls have sailed through to the next phase of the Idols West Africa competition, to be held at Planet 1, Lagos on 2 February, after the completion of the highly-spirited Accra auditions

A Liberian refugee residing in Ghana; a Nigerian lad studying at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and a charming girl with Chinese, Jamaican and African blood, who traced her roots to the Ashanti tribe in Ghana six years ago, were among the highlights of a day of dazzling performances. You will surely remain glued to your seats when the best songs and styles from the Accra auditions are aired on M-Net Africa on 4 March. The show will naturally also feature comical performances galore.

Historically, In South Africa, Heinz Winkler, Anke Pietrangeli and Karin Kortj? won the three successful local editions of Idols while British hero Will Young won national attention across the UK when he swept the title there. In America, the show launched the stellar careers of Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood and most recently Taylor Hicks. Clarkson has gone on to win two Grammy Awards this year for her second album.