Glo ambassadors (l-r): Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha,
Funke Akindele and Ego Ogbaro.
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The world's
number one music singing talent reality TV show, “The X Factor”, has berthed in
Africa for the first time on the shores of Nigeria, courtesy of the leading
telecommunications company, Globacom. The show was unveiled on Wednesday night
at the GET Arena, Lekki, Lagos, confirming Globacom as the leading force that
connects the youths to their entertainment passion.
The ultimate
winner of the spectacular show will cart home a princely sum of $150,000
(N24million), the biggest purse among current reality TV shows. He will also
win a recording contract with the internationally acclaimed Sony Music for the
recording of an album and professional management of the winning individual or
group.
According to
the company's Head, Reality Shows, Sulyman Bello, Glo is proud to be the
catalyst that brought about this development and the attendant buzz cum
excitement it will generate across the continent. “Africa has been yearning for
a programme of this optimum quality and we are privileged to have made it
possible,” an ecstatic Bello said. He
added that Glo needed to do something special to signpost the special year of
its 10th anniversary, hence the gift of “The X Factor” to entertain and delight
its teeming subscribers across sub-Saharan Africa and the larger public.
“This year
marks the 10th anniversary of our operations and this programme is, in part,
our modest way of thanking our subscribers for their loyalty and patronage,” he
said.
Commenting
on the ultimate prize of $150,000 to the winner, Bello said that this is in
sync with the profile of the show. “The unprecedented top prize is a reflection
of the premium status of the programme; this is in addition to the coveted Sony
Music contract with the attendant post-season super star status for the winner
and international stardom”, he added, which is not provided by any other music
talent show in the country today.
The X
Factor, a Syco-owned format, is produced and distributed worldwide by
FremantleMedia. Speaking about the show's upcoming debut in Nigeria, Jamie
Lynn, EVP Sales & Distribution, EMEA at FremantleMedia said: “The X Factor
is one of the leading entertainment shows of this generation and we're
absolutely delighted to be working with Glo to bring Nigeria its own version.
The blockbuster show has enjoyed immense success all over the world and we have
no doubt it will make the same impact in Nigeria as it has had around the
globe.”
“The X
Factor” is a Reality TV singing competition to find new talents. It is
contested by aspiring singers, drawn from public auditions and is open to all
ages, sex, styles, solo acts or groups. A major difference between the show and
others is that the judges also double as coaches for the various groups. It is
peculiarly split in stages, following the contestants from auditions through to
the boot camp, the judges' homes; to the grand finale. Dancers are also featured
and contestants could accompany themselves on guitar, piano or any other
musical instruments.
“The X
Factor” has been successfully launched in major countries including UK, the
United States, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany
and Spain. Here in Africa, the month-long pre-auditions, which are the first
stage, will kick off in Abuja on April 13 and later hold in Port Harcourt and
Lagos. It will also run in Accra and Kumasi in Ghana.
Also
commenting on the development, Nigeria's Afro-calypso king, Lagbaja, said that
the introduction of the programme is a historic event which underscores Glo's
profile as the biggest supporter of quality entertainment packages. “Coming on
the heels of the immensely popular Lafftafest, Glo Naija Sings, G-Bam show,
Campus Storm and the Big Friday Show, this is yet another proof of the
company's consistency in thrilling the youths”, he said.
The other
stages of the competition include the auditions, in front of an audience; the
evictions; the judge's day and the grand finale. Jameel noted that X- Factor
has consistently ranked No 1 entertainment programme across the world,
especially among the young adults. “With X
Factor, the entertainment scene in Nigeria will never be the same
again”, he said