To Nigerian Youths: Leave Talent Shows Alone!

On Wednesday, 6th July, 2016, I got this mail from NET Ng., a special article by Eromo Egbejule titled " Special Report: Dead Ends, Deceit and Disappointment: The Harsh Realities of Nigerian Talent Shows. After reading it, I yelled "Yes, this is what I have always talked about and we keep returning to them.

I did chat with one of my Karate instructors, Arnold Fatolu, who made me understand its even a political game to slow and rubbish the youths from 'becoming the leaders of tomorrow, I later got the gist but I am happy the topic of youth ruling in Nigeria is now being discussed and hopefully we would start having "black hairs' in prominent positions and not 'white hairs'.

It is time Young Nigerians leave talent shows and if not, then these organisers need know the definition of 'follow up'. If I win your competition, pay me my money! If I win your competition, give me everything you promised immediately! And the moment I win your competition, I automatically become your ambassador, it is therefore your duty to help me create awareness for you. O! I pity those that pretend in conditions like this!

Do you know D'flex, Brainee, Richyng, go on list them, but they are heros to recon with now. Read!

"Young Nigerians leave talent shows to discover all that glitters is not gold. Are they just tools in the hands of corporate Nigeria? Or are they failing to step up a ladder held firmly by an industry eager to create room for new stars?
Thenetng Investigates.
MTN scooped up Project Fame West Africa alumni Iyanya, Chidinma, Praiz and iMike in 2013. Photo: Various
On the night of Sunday, December 6, 2010, an unknown 27-year old singer won the second edition of MNET Glo Naija Sings, beating off strong competition from other finalists. His name was Casey Edema and the runners up were Da Brodas and Rasing.
The reward was a princely $100,000 cash prize with a Toyota RAV4 to boot, a recording deal with Storm Records and an ambassadorship deal with Globacom, the title sponsors.
Casey Edema won Glo Naija Sings 2010. The show has since been rested. Photo: GNS
Tall, lanky and packing neat dreadlocks alongside his incredible vocals, bloggers proclaimed him the next big thing. Some Voltrons prophesied that it was only a matter of time before he went international.
Six years later, he is languishing in obscurity; his only claim to international fame: touring Africa as back-up singer for Sinach, a gospel singer.
The prize money (N15 million at the time and more than double that at the current exchange rate) was delayed long enough for him to almost lose hope while the ambassadorship, like the promised stardom, never came.
All that materialised of his record deal was a video shot by Clarence Peters for 'Not The Girl' - which has a little over 2,600 YouTube views as at the time of writing this - and a couple of poorly promoted recordings with a Lagos-based producer TY-Mix.
For Mike ‘iMike’ Anyasodo, winner of Project Fame Season 2, neither change of stage name nor an endorsement deal from MTN could prop up his shadowy career, which fizzled out with the lacklustre sibilance of a damp firecracker.
Some aspiring musicians have evolved into serial reality show contestants, hopping from one to another in the hope of winning just one to actualise their dreams. And even if they do win, it doesn't mean they will stop hopping to focus on shaping their career.