The Abuja audition of X Factor, the world’s
number one music reality TV show brought to Africa for the first time by
Globacom, ended on an exciting note as twenty-two aspiring singers/groups made
it to the next stage of the contest for the unprecedented N24m prize money and
a recording contract with Sony Music international .
Among those that sailed through the
Abuja audition were 17-year-old twins, Clinton and Blair Roberts, from Madonna
Secondary School, Owerri, Imo State.
The duo called ther DNA
Twins were joined in the last stage by 57-year-old Ben Collins Nwachukwu
from Kaduna who was the centre of attraction as the oldest person in the crowd
of singing enthusiasts at the Sheraton Hotel venue of the second audition. The
contestants were made up of mainly teenagers and those in their twenties.
Collins said that there was no age
barrier to talent and that it had been his dream to be in a big reality
show. “X Factor is not for the youth alone. It is for those who are
talented and here I am. I wish to also bring my skills to lime light,” he said.
“For us, X-Factor is the ultimate
show and we have been looking forward all our lives to participating in the
programme. This is the dream we have been waiting for. Just participating
in the audition is deeply fulfilling but we also want to go ahead and win,” the
DNA Twins said. They praised Globacom for bringing opportunities of
stardom to youths.
Another attraction was Adesiyan
Olakitan who impressed the crew with his rendition of the National
Anthem. Olakitan, a worker in Abuja, said she was hoping that X Factor would be
the springboard that would bring her to prominence as a musician. “This is the
first time I have performed in public,” she added.
Chibuzor Christopher , a
ten-year-old boy who came with his father, Christopher Chris, also created a
stir at the Ladi Kwali hall venue of the audition.
D
Omalicha’s, Becky Inyang and Josephine Onyejebose,
students of the Federal Polytechnic Auchi returned
on Sunday in their identical blue costume. But this time, with the X-Factor
badge emblazoned on their chest. The DNA Twins and D Omalicha’s who had
received an express advance over the audition on Saturday, returned for the
final Abuja selection on Sunday.
Hundreds of aspiring singers took
part in the two-day audition at Abuja. The final audition will bring
together all the contestants that made it in Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kumasi ,
Accra and Lagos preliminaries. While Port Harcourt and Abuja have held their
auditions, Kumasi will host Ghanaian contestants on May
4, Accra on May 11, while Lagos audition will hold on May 25 and 26.
The winner of the show will
get $150,000 and a recording contract with the internationally
acclaimed Sony Music for the recording of an album and professional management
of the winning individual or group. X Factor is designed to find new singing
talents, and offers a platform for aspiring singers of all ages, sex and style
as well as solo acts and groups to pursue their ambition. The other stages of
the competition include the evictions, the judge’s day and the grand finale.
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