The quest for the next Afrobeats sensation enters a new phase this Sunday as the group stage of Naija Star Search commences, with renowned OAP VJ Adams taking on the role of show host.
Naija Star Search airs every Sunday at 8 pm on ST Nollywood Plus, ST Nollywood, and ST Yoruba channels on StarTimes, and on the StarTimes-ON mobile app.
The last Sunday saw the unveiling of seventeen contestants, comprising promising young music talents, by the judges. They will showcase their skills through performances of Naija songs, initially covering classics and contemporaries to exude their vibes, followed by renditions of original songs they have composed themselves.
During the group phase, the contestants will be grouped under the guidance of the judges for mentoring. It is anticipated that the judges – Kenny ‘Keke’ Ogungbe, ID Cabasa, and Asha Gangali – will utilize their extensive experience to nurture these budding talents into stars.
The contestants for Team Asha include Sparrowh, TOMs, MB Dre, Specko, and Kachi. Team Cabasa comprises Jaydbody, Greysky, Denerio, Esjay, Thekhaleed, and Skimzo. While Team Keke accommodates eMzez, Eniolá, Black Bella, SKIFFY, Melo, and Jazzman.
They will vie for a spot among the final seven to be mentored by the Kennis Music label and provided a platform to elevate their raw talents into stardom, along with the chance to win a N10 million prize.
Aside from the captivating performances by the contestants, the show offers dramatic moments, intense competition, and palpable passion as game twists evoke mixed emotions.
Naija Star Search is a reality show aimed at unearthing the next generation of Afrobeats stars.
Comparing Naija Star Search to the future of Afrobeats, Kenny Ogungbe remarked, “Afrobeats will never die. The people sustaining it now are in their mid-twenties and thirties. To sustain it, we need to groom new talents in their teens so that in the next ten years, we will still have those holding it. We are here for the future to project the beauty of Naija music.”
The host, Adams Ibrahim Adebola, widely known as VJ Adams, is an acclaimed video jockey, television presenter, and executive producer. Formerly part of Sound City’s OAP team, VJ Adams is highly sought-after across Africa to host cutting-edge shows.
