Reality TV singing competition, Nigerian Idol, is back for the eighth season. It will premiere on April 23 with D’banj, Simi and Obi Asika also returning to preside as judges alongside host, IK Osakioduwa.
This is coming following the success of the past edition that saw Progress Chukwuyem emerge as winner and smiling home with N100 million worth of prizes.
With the eighth season, fans will be thrilled by beautiful performances from up and coming acts. However, the auditions and theatre week will air from April 23 till May 21, so fans can follow the journey of the finalists. The live shows will begin on May 28 and end on July 16, when a new Nigerian Idol will emerge.
According to Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice Nigeria, “Nigerian Idol has continued to offer talented Nigerian artists the platform to show the continent what they can do, and an opportunity to rise to fame through hard work and dedication. It is a rare chance to gain access to the hands-on mentorship provided by the judges, our vocal coaches, the world-class production team and the choreographers that altogether unveil the intricacies of the industry to these talents and a chance for them to hone the skill in readiness for their contracts.
“This year, we are thrilled to have our panel of judges back: D’banj, Simi, Obi Asika. They are returning to steer the course of affairs. We look forward to a wide array of music and song choices across genres and spectacular performances that together deliver a fantastic show.”
On her part, Simi disclosed the qualities a Nigerian Idol must possess. “Have a great work ethic, and be passionate about your work talent is never enough,” she said.
Obi Asika confessed he was looking forward to beginning the journey of choosing a new winner. He said: “If you are going to make it to the top 20, that’s a real fight because there are a lot of people, and many fall off. Every single year, I’m upset that we left some people behind. It’s always a battle, but it’s also a pleasure. We are blessed with incredible talents. It’s one of the things that make Nigerians special. These amazing talents come through every year, and I can assure you that there are special people this season.”
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the talent show recorded a whopping 10% increase in the number of entries for this season compared to the previous one. Last season, the show received over 10,000 audition entries.
The resources, energy and originality put into the show each season have attracted more contestants each year, leading to an impressive increase in entries.
