Idols (West African TV series)

(Redirected from Idols West Africa)

Idols West Africa is the West African version of the Idol series franchise. Based in Nigeria, it is a talent contest to find a recording artiste, and aired on M-Net in 2007. Like the Pan-Arab entry to the series, the show incorporated countries throughout the West African region.

Idols
Created bySimon Fuller
StarringDede Mabiaku
Abrewa Nana
Dan Foster
Country of originNigeria
Production
Running timeVaries
Original release
NetworkM-Net
Release2007 (2007)
Finalists
(With home country and dates of elimination)
Timi Dakolo Winner
Omawumi Megbele May 27
Temitayo George May 21
Eric Arubayi † May 14
Jerrilyn Mulbah May 7
Jodie Odiete April 30
Mercy Nwanko April 23
Uche Ume April 16
Joan Ekpai April 9
Omodele Fatoki April 2

Season 1

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The show is presented in English, hosted by Mike Majic. The three judges are: Nigerian Dede Mabiaku, Ghanaian Abrewa Nana and American Dan Foster.

Themes

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April 2: My Idol
April 9: Old School
April 16: Current Hits
April 23: 80s & 90s
April 30: African Songs
May 7: My Idols
May 14: Producer's Choice
May 21: Ultimate Wishlist
May 27: Grand Finale

Finals elimination chart

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Stage: Semi Finals Finals
Weeks: 03/04 03/11 03/18 03/25 04/02 04/09 04/16 04/23 04/30 05/07 05/14 05/21 05/27
Place Contestant Result
1 Timi Dakolo 2 Winner
2 Omawumi Megbele 1 Btm3 Btm3 Btm2 Btm2 Runner-up
3 Temitayo George 2 Btm2 Btm3 Elim
4 Eric Arubayi 2 Btm2 Btm3 Elim
5 Jerrilyn Mulbah 1 Btm2 Btm2 Btm2 Elim
6 Jodie Odiete 1 Btm3 Elim
7 Mercy Nwankwo 2 Btm2 Elim
8 Uche Ume Elim WC Elim
9 Joan Ekpai 1 Elim
10 Omodele Fatoki WC Elim
Legend
Female Male Safe Safe first Safe second Wildcard Eliminated

Criticism

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Despite the title, the show was dubbed Nigerian Idol by the public. [citation needed] Most of the finalists - bar Liberian Jerrilyn Mulbar - were Nigerian. Most of the auditions were held in Nigerian cities (Lagos, Calabar and Abuja). Only one West African city outside Nigeria - Accra - hosted them.

Dan Foster was criticized for not showing up at the Ghana auditions. Fellow judge Dede Mabiaku (popularly known as the Nigerian Simon Cowell) also came under fire for his attitude towards an auditionee who had arrived clad in white briefs in a bid to imitate his hero Fela Kuti. Viewers were shocked to hear Mabiaku call the auditionee a liar, and accuse him of being on "some wrong pills". Foster attempted to calm Mabiaku, who continued to yell insults at the auditionee before asking him to leave, without giving the other judges a chance to vote either "Yes" or "No"[1]

The winner of the series, Timi Dakolo, is yet to release his debut album with Sony BMG, as announced by the producers of the show.[2][3]

References

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