Emcee Africa returns – better and more inclusive than ever!

The 2007 season of Channel O’s Emcee Africa was a storming success – and this year the competition is ramped up several notches with a more inclusive and exciting format!

Built on its underground credibility, Emcee Africa II is set to head into the mainstream, finding talented men AND women who have the freestyle, battling and performing skills to become Africa’s number one Emcee. This means anyone who wants to step up to the mic could take home the $10 000, 00 prize money AND jump on the hottest track of ’09 by collaborating with African Hip Hop Royalty.

Five countries will be taking part in Africa’s rawest hip-hop talent competition - South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya will all be eyeing the ultimate crown during the 13-episode series. What will it take to be crowned Channel O’s Emcee Africa king or queen?

Well performance for starters – the ability to rock the crowd and display enough showmanship with prepared lyrics to impress one-and-all. The skills to freestyle on a topic, over a popular banger, will also score points and finally whoever comes out tops in one-on-one battling will be en route to the finals. Country eliminations will produce two finalists from South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya and then the judges hand over to the public to choose – through online and SMS voting - just who will represent their country in the finals.

Channel O’s Emcee Africa will make riveting television as the journey to discover Africa’s illest Emcee progresses and with the knowledgeable Lee Kasumba in the presenter’s seat, this will only add to the experience of hip-hop fans at home. The television shows will also be about much more than who walks away with the bragging rights of Africa’s number one Emcee: Viewers will also get a taste of the hip-hop scene in each of the five countries via the kickoff country episodes which profile the capital city, the hottest hip hop producers, and the best hip-hop talent.

More competition details will be revealed in the coming weeks but potential participants should keep tuned to Channel O or keep visiting www.channelo.co.za for dates and venues of country-specific auditions.

Emcee Africa search is back

The only reality TV show, that showcases the continent’s most extensive hip-hop talent search, is back. Emcee Africa is a 13-episode reality competition, which will feature hip hop emcees from five countries Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. Last year Kenya was represented by Big Mike. The show which will air on Channel O in May will have the competitors fighting it out for the grand price of $10,000 (Sh790,000) and a chance to feature on a new track with three African hip-hop veterans. This original track will be accompanied by a music video, shot to commemorate the occasion.
They will be required to performance, freestyle and battling, after which, two emcees from each country will be nominated by their judging panel to go forward and compete in the Emcee Africa grand final, to be held in Botswana in July. Emcee Africa Kenyan audition will be on Saturday, 23 May at a yet to be announced venue.
This year, Mi phone will reward talented emcees for awesome performances with their stylish mobile handsets. As well as members of the public who attend the live events and as part of its own CSR initiative tens of thousands of free Mi-Choice condoms will be
distributed at the Emcee Africa events.