What comes next for a television company that’s progressively pioneered its way into African television history for over a decade? What do you do when you’ve already successfully produced some of the world’s biggest television formats?
The answer for pan-African television operator M-Net is to create their own, brand new, exclusive and original, music reality series and launch it, right here, in Nigeria!
Hot on the heels of M-Net’s African versions of Survivor, Idols and Big Brother, comes the sizzling new series NAIJA SINGS, a ‘never been done before’ competition for Nigeria’s brightest, and boldest vocal talent.
And the best part? NAIJA SINGS is open to a wide range of musical acts, so whether you’re a sensational soloist, or part of a divine duo or even if you’re part of a group groove (of 5 persons or less), you too can enter.
At stake for the winner or winners, is a cool USD 100 000 and the opportunity of a lifetime…the chance to join some of Africa’s biggest names and to perform at the 2009 Channel O Music Video Awards!
“To say that M-Net is incredibly excited about NAIJA SINGS is putting it very mildly,” says M-Net’s Director for Africa Biola Adekanbi from her office in Lagos.
“We just can’t wait to get out there and start rolling out this new series country-wide. Nigeria is the perfect place for a series like this – astonishing music versatility with an undeniable passion for song and a pure determination to succeed.
She goes on to explain that, “NAIJA SINGS is a completely original format, so that in itself, says how committed we are to this market – we’re actively going out into the country and creating major customized series that best fits the culture and audience demand here.”
Produced for M-Net by Storm 360 Ltd and NeverMachine, NAIJA SINGS is set to hold auditions in seven cities (Abuja, Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Jos, Kaduna and Lagos) and would-be entrants need only be over the age of 18, and in possession of valid proof of Nigerian citizenship to enter the competition.
In line with M-Net’s fresh approach to a brand new show, NAIJA SINGS will have no audition judges, so there’s no nerve-wracking wait to hear the judges’ comments at your very first audition for the series.
Simply head out to an audition venue, step into one of the custom designed audition booths and sing one-minute of your selected song, without using backing tracks or instruments.
Your audition will be taped and shortly thereafter, if you’ve been successful, you will be called to advise you the details of your next stage performance.
It’s that simple.
Finalists who make it past audition one will then be invited to perform at a Regional Final where three celebrity judges will evaluate their talent once more. Two contestants from each region head into the TOP 14 at which point audience members take over the judging.
Then it’s all up to the audiences to vote to keep their favourite finalists in the running and to take these performers all the way to the biggest show in town …the NAIJA SINGS FINAL…fittingly set to be recorded on Nigeria’s Independence Day, October 1st and screened on October 3rd.
And if you want to be more than a voting audience member…then you can. Simply go to the series website and register and you could become a very special VIP judge on the series!
But for now all eyes are turning to the first auditions in May and entrants are urged to keep watching M-Net and logging on to the website www.mnetafrica.com for audition details and more information on the series.
Meanwhile, DStv audiences can get ready to see all the NAIJA SINGS action and attitude, including footage from the auditions, when the series begins on M-Net on July 11. Each week a different musical genre will be profiled including Afrobeat, Fuji, Afro Juju, Naija Classic Pop, Naija Contemporary Hits, Highlife as well as International RnB, Soul and Motown Classics and audiences can look out for special celebrity guests performers!
So if you thought that you’d seen it all and heard it all on TV…think again.
NAIJA SINGS has begun!
