It's back, bigger and better MTN Project Fame Season 3 promises to be more interesting, than ever before MTN Project Fame is a music talent competition which creates the opportunity of a lifetime for 18 naturally gifted individuals to end up becoming music superstars.
These lucky 18 hopefuls were chosen from a round of auditions and will be taken to the Performance Academy where they will live throughout the duration of Project Fame competition. They will be trained and coached into becoming music professionals by members of the Faculty. The Faculty is a group of music professionals whose main responsibility is to teach and train the contestants.
While in the Fame Academy, contestants will be filmed 24/7, a daily thirty minute show will air on several TV stations all over the country from Monday to Friday. Each Sunday the contestants will all perform. After their individual performances, the judges and members of the faculty will comment and afterwards members of the public get to vote for the contestant who they think had the best performance.
Voting starts from Sunday 8pm and ends on Saturday at 4pm.
The next Saturday is the elimination show where the four contestants with the lowest public votes will be up for elimination. The four contestants are however given a chance to redeem themselves by performing again. Afterwards, the judges, the contestants and the faculty save one contestant each. The contestant who isn’t saved at all is automatically eliminated. This is the same format the show will go with until a winner emerges in three months time.
This year the winner of Project Fame goes home with a fantastic recording contract, N2.5m and a brand new Toyota RAV4. The 1st runner up gets to go home with N1.5m and a Toyota Corolla while the 2nd runner gets N1m and a Toyota Yaris. In addition the top 6 contestants get to work with Nigeria’s leading producer on their own compositions and release a group song!
The first winner of MTN Project Fame was Iyanya Mbuk who has gone on to release his successful debut album, My Story. The winner of PFWA Season 2 was Mike Anyasodo whose ‘Fine Fine Lady’ single is now a radio and a regular on TV Channels across the country.
The lucky PFWA 18 will be getting their first taste of fame this week. Asa is set to visit the contestants of the MTN Project Fame Season 3 on Thursday 22nd of July 2010. Asa will share her experience as an upcoming talent; and tell the remarkable story of her rise to international fame. As a tribute to the singer who has proudly flown the Nigerian flag, the contestants will be performing her songs this Saturday at this week’s performance show. The contestants will also perform select numbers from Tracy Chapman. Asa will also be on hand to judge the contestants when performing. Obviously the highlight of the evening will be when the singer mounts the stage to perform some of her hit songs.
MTN Project Fame West Africa is produced by Ultima Limited which happens to be a major TV content and production company. Ultima Limited has also produced the highly popular franchise hit show- Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
Who is doing what at PFWA III
• Academy Principal: Joke Silva
• Judges: Kwame, TY MIX, Bibi brew and Nomoreloss
• Dance: Instructor: Kaffy
• Music: Director: Ben Ogbeiwi
• Voice: Coach: Dupe Ige
• Hosts: Adaora Oleh and Joseph Benjamin
TV Schedule for PFWA III
• STV Mon to Fri-7:30-8pm, Sat 11-1pm,Sat-5-6,Sun 7:30-9pm;
• AIT Sat-7-8pm, Sun 6:30pm,
• DBN Mon-Fri 7-7:30pm, Sat 2-4:30pm,Sat 5-6pm,7:30-9pm
• ESBS Mon- Fri 7:30-8pm, Sat 7-8pm,Sun 6:30-8pm;
• CRBS Mon-Fri 7:30-8pm,Sat-10:30am-1pm,Sat 5-6pm,Sun 7:30-9pm
The Lucky 18
ADEBOLA KESTER
Adebola Kester was born in May 1981 in Lagos. She is currently a post graduate student of Legon University, Ghana. She loves singing and writing songs and short stories. Adebola is very reserved and totally loves her peace and quiet. Some of her dislikes include lies, racial discrimination, negative thinking and a whole lot more.
Adebola is fascinated by the likes of Cece Winans, Lauryn Hill, Marvin Sapp and Nikki Laoye.
She sees her country as the land of great possibilities and hopes that the rich culture will not degenerate as time rolls by but if given the opportunity to live outside Nigeria she would like to live in the United States.
Her Bible is the core of her foundation and a definite Academy item. She expects the Academy will greatly improve her singing ability.
CHIDIMA
Chidinma was born in the late 80’s and is a business promoter and student in Lagos. She loves singing and listening to the radio. Her favorite artistes are Bob Marley, Lagbaja, and Dare Art Alade.
One thing she will like to take into the academy is her disc man. She hopes the Academy will be interesting.
Her dislikes include dirt, body odour and oppression which she says makes her loose her temper. Comedy she said is one thing that cracks her ribs. She hopes for a better future for Nigeria.
CHRISTIAN
Christian is a 22 year old student from the Ashanti Region in Ghana. He absolutely loves singing and writing songs. He describes himself as emotional and says he expresses his emotions by crying. He hates gossips and discrimination.
He wishes to develop a career in singing and sees Project Fame as an excellent platform.
Luther Vandross is his icon.He describes his Ipod as his companion and would definitely want to take it into the Academy.He plans to be the hottest vocalist in the whole wide world….in five years!
EYO
Eyo is a 29 year old graduate of the University of Uyo.
Eyo speaks Ibibio, Pidgin and English fluently. He is a song writer and hopes that one day his songs will be heard all over the world.
His hobbies include singing, playing football, and hanging out with friends. Some of his favourite musicians are Deitrick Haddon, Musiq Soul Child, Angie Stone, Jill Scott, Maxwell and D’Angelo. His best food is plantain and beans.
Eyo is optimistic and determined to get to the top. It is win or win for him! MTN Project Fame is the opportunity he has been waiting for to showcase his talent.
GOLD
Gold is a 21 year old student and model based in Lagos. Musically, she is influenced by J. Moss and Beyonce. She loves cooking, dancing and singing.To have made it this far is the greatest thing that has ever happened to her. She hopes to touch the lives of many with her songs. She looks forward to having a fulfilled experience in the Academy.
HELEN
23 year old
Helen is a student of Royal Institute, Monrovia. She is married to Joseph and loves singing, cooking and listening to the news. She loves songs by Brandy.She is turned off by adultery, stealing and dirt. Her clothes and Bible are things she cannot do without in the Academy. If given the opportunity to live outside West Africa she would love to live in the United States. She hopes the Academy will be a great and educating experience for her.
JOECEILA
Joecelia was born in the 80’s and is from Sierra Leone. She teaches French and English and says music is embedded in her! She is inspired by Madonna and Rihanna.Her Bible is the one thing she must take into the academy. She expects the academy to develop, utilize and exhibit her talent and accomplish her dreams of being a star. She is determined to get to the top. In her own words, “The whole of Sierra Leone is looking up to me and I will not let them down”.
KESSE
Kesse who is from Ghana’s Eastern Region was born in the mid-80s, is currently an undergraduate of the Methodist University, Ghana and would like to live in New York.
Kesse is very proud of Ghana because it’s peaceful. He sees politics as one of the pressing issues that should be attended to.
The one thing he cannot do without is his guitar so expect to see him strumming away in the Academy.
LINDSEY
Lindsey emerged as one of the talented few from the Abuja auditions. Born in the late 80’s, a law graduate of the University of Jos, Lindsey is musically inspired by Stevie Wonder, Eva Cassidy, Norah Jones, Roberta Flack and Sade.She loves volleyball, badminton, poetry, reading novels, playing scrabble and above all listening to soul and Motown music. She despises violence and sees it as a resort for animals! Lindsey believes that Nigeria is a great country that needs a revolution to get her out of the drudgery.
She is obsessed with her eyes because they are pretty and they speak her emotions. Lindsey would love to go into the Academy with her music player which she sees as her “inspiration and connection to her spiritual and natural world”. She expects the Academy to be a great place with great musical minds.
MODELE
Modele was born in September 1987 in Minna, Niger State and currently lives in Abeokuta. She enjoys exercising, singing, cooking and giving herself the assurance that there is more to life.She will like to live in the United States and admires artistes like Beyonce and Mariah Carey. She hopes to be one of the five finalists and is up for the challenge.
MONICA
A 24 year old undergraduate of Ebonyi State University.
Monica loves reading, visiting friends, going to church and singing. Her favourite artistes include Whitney Houston, Beyonce Knowles, Asa, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Lara George.She is proudly Nigerian but sees unemployment as a critical issue. Monica is put off by pride, insincerity, gossips, flies and rats!
She would like to go into the Academy with her Bible because it’s the source of her strength and inspiration. She hopes that the Academy will be fun, friendly and interesting.
OCHUKO
Ochuko, a Babcock University graduate, was born in Lagos in the late 70’s. He works as a contact centre supervisor but his passion for music has brought him this far. He loves basketball, poetry and music. In his leisure time, he watches movies, does karaoke and goes night clubbing.Ochuko does not watch or follow football…too much unnecessary stress.
Artistes like Brian McKnight, Neyo, Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys, and Reuben Studdard are his favorites. He also likes reading Sidney Sheldon, John Grisham and Stephen King novels.
Ochuko loves pounded yam and Efo Riro (vegetable soup). He dislikes snobs, greedy, and dirty people.
A whole lot of drama and fun is the summary of what he expects in the Academy.
_________________________________________________________________________________
RHODA
Rhoda, a 26 year old Theatre Arts graduate of Delta State University is currently a Radio Presenter with Ray Power in Lagos. Rhoda loves drawing, painting, acting and cooking. She dislikes disrespectful people, liars and cheats.Some of her favourite artistes are Jennifer Hudson and Mariah Carey.
Rhoda loves her country Nigeria, which she describes as richly blessed with great and lovely people; however, she considers the lack of social and infrastructural development as a major issue.
Her must-have Academy item is her Bible because it guides her through her daily activities.
SAMUEL
Samuel is in his early 20s and is a student of the Unity Party Institute Monrovia. He dislikes noisy and overcrowded environments. His favorite artistes are Usher, Boyz II Men, Chris Brown and Neyo.Given the opportunity, he will love to go in to the Academy with his CD player. He is excited about the Academy because it will give him the opportunity to interact with people of different backgrounds and nationalities.
SHEHU
30 year old
Shehu is one of the few selected from Kaduna. He currently works in an internet café to support his passion, music! He has been in a happy relationship for three years.He believes this is the ultimate platform for him to showcase what God has blessed him with! He expects the academy to be challenging, exciting, fun, and educational. He intends to get to the top and if he doesn’t win, vows to try again!
He loves serene environments, music, and hanging out with friends. His favorite artistes include Usher and Brandy.
TOLU
The 29 year old song writer
Tolu who aspires to be a producer was born and brought up in Kaduna. He describes his mother as his girl friend because she means a lot to him….ladies…Tolu actually does have a girlfriend!
He is fascinated by R Kelly, Brandy, Joe, Boyz II Men, Will Smith and Denzel Washington. He likes drawing, writing music, watching movies and hanging out with his girlfriend. He dislikes heartbreak, wife beaters and gossips.
He wishes to go into the Academy with his laptop so he can listen to music, watch movies, and above all gaze at his girlfriend’s pictures. He believes the Academy is a place to learn and grow musically and in other phases of life. He’s in it to win it!
VWEDE
Vwede is an Engineering graduate of the University of Benin. He loves swimming, reading, playing scrabble and listening to the news.He would love to take his Ipod into the Academy so he can listen to his favourite artistes, Lemar & Wande Coal.
He hopes the Academy will be fun, exciting, mind blowing, adventurous and romantic!
YETUNDE
Born in the early 90’s,
Yetunde lost her mother eight years ago and relocated to Ibadan after her secondary school education in search of greener pastures, starting a career in music as a backup singer for gospel artistes in Ibadan. She got to know about Project Fame West Africa this year and feels this is an opportunity to showcase her talent to the world.She admires Tracy Chapman, India Arie and Whitney Houston. Her favourite book is Goals! by Brian Tracy.
She expects the Academy to be fun, educative, challenging and victorious.
