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WEST AFRICAN ‘IDOL’ HOLDS AUDITIONS: First ever tryouts in region draws students, unemployed and war refugees.
*The “Idol” TV franchise that began in Britain six years ago under the name “Pop Idol,” has spread like wildfire throughout the world and is now heating up virgin territory in the motherland.
Auditions for “Idols West Africa,” which took place in January in Nigeria and Ghana, drew everyone from students and housewives, to the unemployed and war refugees, reports Variety. The competition will begin broadcasting to sub-Saharan African viewers through Multichoice's DStv satellite service Sunday nights beginning Feb. 18.
"Wherever you go in West Africa, there are songs in the air, voices in harmony, a radio humming, a rhythm being celebrated. That's what 'Idols' is about," says Joseph Hundah, M-Net operations director for Sub-Saharan Africa. "With West Africa offering large television audiences to M-Net, it's fitting that we create an 'Idols' here."
During the first round of auditions, hopefuls were allowed to perform a wide range of music styles from traditional to modern, but contestants chosen to go to the region’s version of “Hollywood” (a.k.a. – the next round) must be able to sing pop, African and Western music, including English-language songs.
Residents from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo between the ages of 18 and 30 were eligible to enter.
The West African counterparts to judges Randy, Paula and Simon are Nigerian musician Dede Mabiaku, Ghanaian singer Abrewa Nana and the American-born, Lagos radio DJ Dan Foster. The show is hosted by Nigerian TV personality and entertainer Mike Magic.
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