The 8th season of the biggest reality music show in Africa has started. Auditions all around major Nigerian cities, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Lone have been done and dusted, 15 great talents have made it to the project fame academy. Hence, we will all be glued to our TV sets every evening for the daily dosage of Mtn Project Fame West Africa in the coming weeks. Are we finally getting a non-Nigerian winner this time? Well. Nigerian or non-Nigerian, where are the then-famous project fame alumni that once sang their ways into our hearts since 2008? What happened to the other 5 that came out top of the class in the other previous seasons?

Here are the past winners in descending order:

Iyanya
Mike
Chidinma
Ayo
Monica
Olawale
Geoffrey

Perhaps, some of these names now only just ring a bell. Only 2 have been able to make a solid standing in the highly-competitive and crowded Nigerian music industry. Others still do music, but they haven't been able to hit a different limelight apart from the project fame's. Why? Praiz, Tolu and Niniola from season 1, 3 and 6 respectively, are also making waves to an extent. 4 or 5 popular names out of over 60 talented Nigerians to have participated thus far isn't really commendable.



Project fame is no doubt the biggest and best musical reality show on this continent. The quality is next to none. Great academy and awesome faculty members that train the contestants, and turn them into sparkling diamonds eventually. Every aspect of music is taught. The voice, the melody, the fitness, the business, the brand, the music making, and the presentation. All are taught in toto. So, just few weeks in the famous project fame academy will refine any talented musician. The contestants from every season have voices to kill for. God! Voices dey o o! But great vocal dexterity isn't enough to conquer the music industry (Ask Darey and Dakolo), although it's definitely a great advantage.


Industry veterans in artistes, managers and promoters also come around to teach these guys 1st class info and tips on what it takes to make it and break into the industry. So it'd be erroneous to say project fame isn't doing enough. They deserve all the kudos. But talent is just never enough to put out great (commercial) music that has a certain level of acceptability in this part of the world. Sadly enough, a majority of hitmakers in the industry doesn't know much of the rudiments of music. I'm talking about pitching, scaling, choreography et al. Yet, they are on top. So is music education not useful if those groomed aren't doing as great as the "ungroomed"?

At the end of the day, it is easy to conclude in the Nigerian cliche "abinibi yato si ability", simply put "natural endowment supersedes learnt efforts". Project fame or no project fame, person wey go blow go blow, and vice versa. I wish the next winner and all other soon-to-be-alumni all the best in the music industry.

PROJECT FAME! WHAT AH FEELING!!!



source: http://sharpijebuboy.com/mtn-project-fame-whither-the-other-5-winners-and-finalists/

my name is not there

frankay430:
my name is not there

who u be?

The rudiments of music is not celebrated in Nigeria. That's why Praiz is just becoming successful after turning commercial.

In Africa (Nigeria especially), just ask some producer to cook up beat for you and add some wack lyrics.
There you go. The next hit.