Nigerian Idols Is Here

From November, fans of Idols will be able to watch the globally famous music hunt show on  Nigerian TV stations, courtesy of Optima Media Group, licensees of the show in Nigeria.

With a number of other properties such as Apprentice, So you think you can dance, Dancing  with the stars, Soccer prince, Got talent, Soccer stars, and Don’t forget the lyrics  pending, Optima Media Group, together with its associate production partners, Rapid Blue  Format, is gradually gaining grounds as Africa’s quintessential content house and  production companies.

Optima, the one-stop shop for quality TV production and execution, will further establish  itself as the continent’s leading media, sports and entertainment company.

Just like the original show, Nigerian Idols is a television reality show with a  nationwide search for Nigeria’s next solo superstar, which will offer one young hopeful  the opportunity that raw talented singers have, until now, only dreamed of.

It also aims to find the best singer in the country who can be defined as national  singer, and intertional artiste. One contestant will win a top quality management deal  and recording contract with an international record label, setting him or her on the path  to stardom.

To help put those acts to shape is CEO of Chocolate City, Audu Maikori; veteran singer,  Yinka Davies and American dancer and accomplished singer, Jeffrey Daniel.

Maikori, in 2001, founded Chocolate City Entertainment Company, a record label, artiste  management and events company that was highly influential in the successful careers of  key award winning artistes such as Djinee, Jeremiah Gyang, M.I. and Jesse Jags.

On 26 June, 2007, Audu made history by winning the highly coveted British Council Award,  International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year.

Jeffrey Daniel is an African-American dancer, choreographer, singer, songwriter and  performer. He is well known as a member of soul group, Shalamar and for performing The  Backslide, a physically complicated dance technique now known as the Moonwalk.

Yinka Davies first hit limelight as Lagbaja’s lead singer in 1992 and performed numerous  live shows with him. She has since moved on to become one of the best female vocal  talents on the African continent.

Nigerian Idols will start with auditions in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Calabar with Yemisi  Fajimolu (Misi) taking TV audiences through the show, episode by episode.

“I am so excited about this. It is a dream come true for me and I can’t wait to start on  this project,” she said.

Idols has been produced in different continents of the world including Poland, America,  Greece and Turkey.

Culled from Pop Idol, the show has become one of the biggest international franchises and  the Nigerian version will be sponsored by Etisalat.