Project Fame West Africa

Project Fame, also known as Project Fame West Africa or MTN Project Fame West Africa (for sponsorship purposes), is a music talent TV reality show filmed in Lagos and aired in the West African subcontinent.[2] It is a regional version of Star Academy reality series that was developed and is licensed worldwide by Endemol. The show used to feature contestants from Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, but Liberia and Sierra Leone have been dropped since the 2014 Ebola Outbreak. The show is broadcast by networks in these four countries and across the African continent.

Project Fame West Africa
Also known asProject Fame
GenreReality, talent show
Created byGboyega Ayoade
Presented byJoseph Benjamin
Bolanle Olukanni[1]
Judges
Country of originNigeria
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons9
No. of episodes5 per season
Production
Executive producerMTN Nigeria
ProducerUltima Limited
Original release
NetworkTV3 Ghana
Clare TV (Liberia)
AIT (Nigeria)
GET TV (Nigeria)
MiTV (Nigeria)
NTA (Nigeria)
Nigerzie (Nigeria)
ONTV(Nigeria)
Silverbird (Nigeria)
SoundCity (Nigeria)
ABC TV (Sierra Leone)
Release18 July 2008 (2008-07-18) –
2016 (2016)

Run by Ultima production,[3] Project Fame's inaugural season began in 2008. The production format consists of gala evenings held each Sunday night in prime time and hosted by Joseph Benjamin and Adaora Oleh. In season 7, Adaora was replaced with Bolanle Olukanni. Additionally, there's a weekly recap show and the Eviction night on Saturday night.

The jury is formed by three judges; Praiz, Bibie Brew and Tee-Y Mix, and Faculty members of the Academy which include: Joke Silva, Lovette Otegbola, Dupe Ige, Ben Ogbeiwi and Mr Gboyega Ayoade.

The show is notorious for its winners struggling to make a name for themselves in the industry after they win. Of all the contestants in the 9 seasons, only Iyanya, Chidinma, Praiz, Niniola and Johnny Drille have gone on to make various degrees of success in music; season 5 winner Ayoola went on to become a thriving TV star[4]

Winners & Runners-up

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Season Year Winner Runner-up Country Host
1
2008
Iyanya Nigeria
2
2009
Mike Anyasodo Nigeria
3
2010
Chidinma Nigeria
4
2011
Monica Ogah Nigeria
5
2012
Ayoola Marvellous Odiete Nigeria
6
2013
Olawale Nigeria
7
2014
Geoffrey Oji Nigeria
8
2015
Jeff Akoh Nigeria
9
2016
Okiemute Ighorodje[5] Nigeria

Season 1 (2008)

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Season 2 (2009)

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Season 3 (2010)

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[6]

Candidate Age Residence Result
Adebola Kester 29 Ghana
Chidinma 22 Ikorodu, Nigeria
Christian 22 Ashanti Region, Ghana
Eyo 29 Lagos, Nigeria
Kesse 24 Ghana
Ochuko Lagos, Nigeria
Tolu Adesina 29 Kaduna, Nigeria
Yetunde Ibadan, Nigeria
Joecelia Gbondo Freetown, Sierra Leone 10th Evicted
Rhoda 26 Lagos, Nigeria 9th Evicted
Vwede Akpoguma Benin, Nigeria 8th Evicted
Helen Pajebo-Jackson 23 Monrovia, Liberia 7th Evicted
Shehu 30 Kaduna, Nigeria 6th Evicted
Monica 24 Enugu, Nigeria 5th Evicted
Samuel Stryker Monrovia, Liberia 4th Evicted
Modele 22 Abeokuta, Nigeria 3rd Evicted
Lindsey Abuja, Nigeria 2nd Evicted
Gold 21 Lagos, Nigeria 1st Evicted

Gala evenings

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1st Live Show - Contestant's choice[7]
Order Contestant Song (Original Artist) Result
1
Tolu "When a Man Loves a Woman" (Michael Bolton) Safe
2
Rhoda "For You I Will" (Monica) Safe
3
Lindsey "Time After Time" (Cyndi Lauper) Safe
4
Joecelia "Breathe Again" (Toni Braxton) Safe
5
Helen "Nothing Compares To You" (Sinéad O'Connor) Safe
6
Vwede "Coast to Coast" (Westlife) Safe
7
Yetunde "You Gotta Be" (Des'ree) Safe
8
Eyo "I Just Called To Say I Love You" (Stevie Wonder) Safe
9
Chidinma "Stickwitu" (The Pussycat Dolls) Safe
10
Shehu "Careless Whispers" (George Michael) Safe
11
Modele "Same Old Love" (Anita Baker) Safe
12
Kesse "Rock Me Tonight" (Freddie Jackson) Safe
13
Gold "Smooth Operator" (Sade Adu) Safe
14
Samuel "Lady In Red" (Chris de Burg) Safe
15
Adebola "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" (Whitney Houston) Safe
16
Monica "Still the One" (Shania Twain) Safe
17
Christian "No Matter Why" (Boyzone) Safe
18
Ocuhko "My Girl" (Temptations) Safe
2nd Live Show - Aṣa & Tracy Chapman[8]

Mentor: Aṣa

Order Contestant Song (Original Artist) Result
1
Yetunde "Eye Adaba" (Aṣa) Safe
2
Eyo "Change" (Tracy Chapman) Safe
3
Joecelia "Fire on the Mountain" (Aṣa) Bottom Five
4
Shehu "Kiss the Rain" (Tracy Chapman) Bottom Five
5
Modele "You're the One" (Tracy Chapman) Bottom Five
6
Tolu "Jailer Man" (Aṣa) Safe
7
Rhoda "For My Love" (Tracy Chapman) Safe
8
Lindsey "Give Me One Reason" (Tracy Chapman) Eliminated
9
Chidinma "Fast Cars" (Tracy Chapman) Safe
10
Helen "Sorry" (Tracy Chapman) Safe
11
Vwede "If You Want Me" (Tracy Chapman) Safe
12
Christian "360 Degrees" (Aṣa) Safe
13
Ochuko "She's Got Her Ticket" (Tracy Chapman) Safe
14
Samuel "Peace" (Aṣa) Safe
15
Adebola "Iba" (Aṣa) Safe
16
Monica "Why?" (Tracy Chapman) Safe
17
Gold "Waidi" (Aṣa) Eliminated
18
Kesse "So Beautiful" (Aṣa) Safe
3rd Live Show - Reggae[9]

Mentor: Samini

Order Contestant Song (Original Artist) Result
1
Ochuko "Rock Me Baby" (Johnny Nash) Safe
2
Christian "I Shot the Sheriff" (Bob Marley) Safe
3
Joecelia "Cherry Oh Baby" (UB40) Safe
4
Monica "Pass the Dutchie" (Musical Youth) Safe
5
Modele "Rat Race" (Mandators) Eliminated
6
Eyo "Romba Stylee" (Ras Kimono) Safe
7
Tolu "Get Up, Stand Up" (Bob Marley) Safe
8
Chidinma "Gnashing of Teeth" (Mighty Diamonds) Safe
9
Helen "Just Don't Wanna be Lonely" (Freddie McGregor) Bottom Five
10
Rhoda "Mama Africa" (Peter Tosh) Bottom Five
11
Vwede "Kpobaro" (Evi Edna) Safe
12
Samuel "Don't Turn Around" (Aswad) Eliminated
13
Adebola "I Wanna Wake Up With You" (Boris Gardiner) Bottom Five
14
Shehu "Back To My Roots" (Lucky Dube) Safe
15
Kesse "Land of my Birth" (Eric Donaldson) Safe
16
Yetunde "I Need a Roof" (Mighty Diamonds) Safe
4th Live Show - African Night[10]

Mentor: Lagbaja

Order Contestant Song (Original Artist) Result
1
Eyo "Lady" (Fela) Safe
2
Shehu "Coolu Temper" (Lagbaja) Eliminated
3
Joecelia "I Shall Sing" (Miriam Makeba) Safe
4
Monica "Nigeria Go Survive" (Veno) Eliminated
5
Kesse "Dambebi" (Ofori Amponsah) Safe
6
Chidinma "Ipi Tombia" (Miriam Mekeba) Safe
7
Rhoda "I'm Burning Up" (Yvonne Chaka Chaka) Bottom Five
8
Helen "Taxi Driver" (Mandy Brown) Safe
9
Vwede "Rhumba Dance" (Mike Okri) Bottom Five
10
Tolu "Palava" (Fela) Safe
11
Adebola "Thank you Mr. DJ" (Yvonne Chaka Chaka) Bottom Five
12
Yetunde "Wombo Lombo" (Angélique Kidjo) Safe
13
Christian "Wo Se Keta A Bae Mu" (Daddy Lumba) Safe
14
Ochuko "Konko Below" (Lagbaja) Safe
5th Live Show - Soft Rock and Soul[11]

Mentor: Frank Edoho

Order Contestant Song (Original Artist) Result
1
Adebola "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman" (Celine Dion) Safe
2
Yetunde "Big Girls Don't Cry" (Fergie) Safe
3
Eyo "Three Times A Lady" (Kenny Rogers) Safe
4
Joecelia "It's My House" (Diana Ross) Safe
5
Kesse "Knocking on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan) Safe
6
Rhoda "Runaway" (The Corrs) Safe
7
Vwede "Take My Breath Away" (Berlin) Safe
8
Tolu "First Cut Is The Deepest" (Rod Stewart) Safe
9
Ochuko "One More Night" (Phil Collins) Safe
10
Christian "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (Simply Red) Safe
11
Helen "Lake A Prayer" (Madonna) Safe
12
Chidinma "I Want To Know What Love Is" (Mariah Carey) Safe
6th Live Show - Classic Duets & Evergreen Disco Songs[12]

Mentor: Yinka Davies

Order Contestant Song (Original Artist) Result
1 Eyo "Same Girl" (Usher & R. Kelly) Safe
Kesse Safe
2 Christian "Two Wrongs" (Wyclef Jean & Claudette Ortizt) Bottom 5
Helen Eliminated
3 Vwede "Love of My Life" (George Benson & Roberta Flack) Eliminated
Adebola Safe
4 Joecelia "I Got You Babe" (UB40) Safe
Ochuko Bottom 5
5 Tolu "My Boo" (Usher & Alicia Keys) Safe
Chidinma Safe
6 Rhoda "Frankie" (Sister Sledge) Bottom 5
Yetunde Safe
7
Eyo "Cassanova" (Gerald Levert) Safe
8
Kesse "Ladies Man" (Kool & the Gang) Safe
9
Helen "Ain’t Nobody" (Chaka Khan) Eliminated
10
Christian "Rock The Boat" (The Hues Corporation) Bottom 5
11
Vwede "Night Shift" (The Commodores) Eliminated
12
Adebola "Staying Alive" (Bee Gees) Safe
13
Joecelia "I'm in Love" (Evlyn King) Safe
14
Ochuko "Wet My Whistle" (Midnight Star) Bottom 5
15
Tolu "Caribbean Quee" (Billy Ocean) Safe
16
Chidinma "I'm Every Woman" (Whitney Houston) Safe
17
Yetunde "Somebody Else's Guy" (Jocelyn Brown) Safe
18
Rhoda "Ring My Bell" (Anita Ward) Bottom 5
7th Live Show - Afro-Caribbean night[13]

Mentor: Onyeka Onwenu

Order Contestant Song (Original Artist) Result
1
Adebola "Halleluyah" (Onyeka Onwenu) Bottom 5
2
Eyo "Ifeoma" (Felix Lebarty) Safe
3
Joecelia "Baby Let Me Love You" (Bonny Macs) Eliminated
4
Kesse "Searching" (Bongos Ikwe) Safe
5
Christian "Bonsue" (Joe Mensah) Safe
6
Yetunde "Jafunmi" (Sunny Adé) Bottom 5
7
Chidinma "Ekwe" (Onyeka Onwenu) Safe
8
Tolu "You & I" (Onyeka Onwenu) Safe
9
Rhoda "Hot Hot Hot" (Mighty Diamonds) Eliminated
10
Ochuko "Afro Juju" (Sir Shina Peters) Bottom 5

Elimination chart

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Elimination Chart
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Adebola IN IN IN IN IN IN
Chidinma IN IN IN IN IN IN
Christian IN IN IN IN IN IN
Eyo IN IN IN IN IN IN
Kesse IN IN IN IN IN IN
Ochuko IN IN IN IN IN IN
Tolu IN IN IN IN IN IN
Yetunde IN IN IN IN IN IN
Rhoda IN IN IN IN IN OUT
Joecelia IN IN IN IN IN OUT
Vwede IN IN IN IN OUT
Helen IN IN IN IN OUT
Shehu IN IN OUT
Monica IN IN OUT
Samuel IN OUT
Modele IN OUT
Lindsey OUT
Gold OUT
  The contestant won the show
  The contestant lost in the final
  The contestant was in the Bottom Five, but saved by the jury
  The contestant was in the Bottom Five, but saved by the academy
  The contestant was in the Bottom Five, but saved by the students
  The contestant was eliminated

Season 4 (2011)

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Season 5 (2012)

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Season 6 (2013)

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Season 7 (2014)

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Season 8 (2015)

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Season 8 is being broadcast on TVC, MITV, DBN, SOUNDCITY, ONTV and GETTV. the finalists are Ada, Anderson, Arewa, Deinde, Jeff & pearl.

 Jeffrey oji finished as the winner of season 8

Season 9 (2016)

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References

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  1. ^ "5 things you probably don't know about the charming TV host". 19 August 2015.
  2. ^ Simwa, Adrianna (2018-06-06). "All MTN Project Fame winners since inception". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  3. ^ "Ultima". Ultima. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  4. ^ "MTN Project Fame West Africa Archives". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  5. ^ BellaNaija: And the Winner is... 25-year-old Okiemute Ighorodje Wins Season 9 of MTN Project Fame West Africa!
  6. ^ "MTN Project Fame West Africa's 'Lucky 18′ get their first taste of Stardom as the show begins and superstar Asa visits". Bella Naija. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  7. ^ "Opening Gala Show". Project Fame. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Sunday Show 1......A night of bliss and fun". Project Fame. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  9. ^ "REGGAE NIGHT". Project Fame. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  10. ^ "AFRICAN NIGHT". Project Fame. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  11. ^ "A night of Soft Rock and Soul". Project Fame. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  12. ^ "Sunday's Show 6... A Double-edged Night". Project Fame. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  13. ^ "Sunday Show 6…… Afro- Caribbean Night". Project Fame. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
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