Timi Dakolo, Orlando Julius, Kiss Daniel Grace Nigerian Idol Top 12 Unveiling

Lagos, Nigeria; April 30, 2015: The popular appeal of Nigeria’s leading TV Music Show, Nigerian Idol was further highlighted at the weekend during the unveiling of the top 12 finalists with the presence of key figures in the entertainment industry such as Afro-Pop legend, Orlando Julius, Idol first winner and soul vocalist, Timi Dakolo and Dancehall sensation, Kiss Daniel.

There was no doubt the presence of the trio would offer huge inspiration to the young and aspiring top 12 music talents as they enter the crucial phase of the show given their the enviable marks they have made in the industry.

Timi Dakolo, renowned soul vocalist and winner of the maiden edition of the Idol Show in 2007 was the most involved of the three as he held sessions of interactions with different clusters of the Top 12 contestants inside Studio B.

Kiss Daniel, on the other hand, was a glimpse of stardom as he mounted the stage to entertain guests with the hit songs ‘Woju’ and ‘Shoye’ to the delight of the audience, who did a sing-along with him.

The trio are among a long list of music stars that have openly identified with the Show, top among whom are Tuface, Olamide, Run Town, Dammy Krane, Cynthia Morgan, Kiss Daniel, YQ and P.R.E.

In a related development, Nigerian Idol Host, Illrhmz, real name Olowu Bardia Adebola, has called on the Top 12 finalists to show real hunger for their passion if they must make a success of their hatching music career and avoid the pitfalls that have been the bane of many in their mould.

According to the sleek-tongue Presenter, the on-going season has been full of “drama and twists” with a crop of contestants quite different from those in previous editions.

His words, “This crop of contestants is different from any other we have ever seen on this show. They all realised that when it comes to the top 12, it is the final hurdle. You either make it or break, the whole of Africa I would say is watching the top 12, and from the producer to the whole crew, we are looking for that Idol because no matter how much money is pumped into you, if you don’t have that hunger to be successful after you win, it does not make sense. It is not just about winning the competition. People are looking for that true Nigerian Idol.”

Speaking further, Illrhmz challenged the contestants to take cues from the likes of Darey ‘Art’ Alade and Omawumi Megbele by aiming beyond the Show and channelling efforts towards creating unique music brands valuable to the industry.

He said. “Think about what you want to do beyond Idol. Why are you into music? What is your key passion? What kind of sound are you trying to create? There are loads of artistes out there. What is going to make you different? If you can identify that USP, that magic, then you can bring that on stage and you can groom it. People are watching the show. Win or Lose. You are already a star. Now, it is what you do with that exposure that you get. I want to see that artiste that will say people are going to know my name, I’m going to give them this sound that is missing in the industry, from the market and I am going to establish myself. That is what I am looking forward to.”

The popular On-Air Personality, while reflecting on the impact of the Show on the contestants in the last 16 weeks noted that the contestants have all gone through remarkable transformation.

“They are a bunch of Idols 12 who have transformed. We have seen how literally rough, untrained, unskilled, never-looking apart they were in the beginning, but all that has changed as the show wore on; now, they tend to sound better, look better, gain more confidence. . I just want to see what kind of Idol we would have this year. If you look at the crop in top 12, they are very different from all of the other years. We will see how tough the competition at this stage,” he said.

Meanwhile, franchise owners of Nigerian Idol TV Reality Show, Optima Media Group (OMG), last week unveiled the last 12 contestants in the on-going season 5 of the show. The unveiling which took place at the Dream Studios, Ojodu-Omole at the weekend was in association with Show sponsor, Etisalat Nigeria and partners, Payporte, Cool Fm, Tantalizers, Cadbury Nigeria, Zaron, Dabur Toothpaste, So-Klin, ORS and Ellis Suites.

Those unveiled include Ogunmoyero Modolowamu (Dolu), Oyinkepreye Deborah Toun (Preye), Janet Ebiwari Ayoka (Ayoka), Godson Goodluck (Classic Tunez), Ogunrombi Kunle (K-Peace), Esther Aritheshoma Monday (Sther), Adigwe Brenda Ada (Brenda), Ekeoma Victor Chibuzor (Prime), Paul Manuwa (P.Scholes), Okemiri Uloma Margaret (Uloma), Omodele Diana Fatoki (Modele) and Ese-Amadasun Imuetiyan (Nex2).

The top 12 most outstanding acts will be squaring up against one another for the N7.5 million top spot cash reward as well as other multi-million naira juicy offers chief among which include a recording deal with South Africa-based Universal Music label and a brand new SUV car. They had beaten 20 others to make the cut.