Project Fame West Africa returns: Too many Nigerians no Ghanaian
Ghana failed to have representation in the just-opened second season of the hit singing competition, Project Fame West Africa. Ghana fielded three contestants in the top 15 last year and Joseph Nii Ankrah ultimately won the second prize for the country.
However, the country's fortunes took an unfortunate decline when the final 15 for this year's competition were revealed at the Ultima Studios, Omole, Ogba, Lagos last Sunday. The only Ghanaian to make the top 18 failed miserably with his final attempt to make it into the academy. At the opening Gala 18 bright and brilliant contestants from Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone were introduced with only 15 available slots in the academy. So 3 had to go home. The judges convincingly admitted 12, while 6 contestants; Krimi, Raymond, Anis, Marylyn, Desmond and Felicia had to contend for the 3 remaining slots. Ghana's rep, Raymond from the second season of Stars of the Future ( a popular singing competition in Ghana), who also happens to have a music video on Ghanaian TV chose to perform Blue's hit song, 'U make me wanna'.
Looking like a fish out of water, Raymond forgot to turn on his microphone on his first attempt so he had to restart his performance. On the second attempt, he forgot his lyrics and on strike 3, he completely washed away any chance of making it into the academy. Even though he sounded good whenever he could remember his lyrics, he completely blew it and unfortunately, Ghana's hopes making an impact went in flames along with him.
So what went wrong? Is it a case that Ghana hasn't got enough talent or was it the case that the wrong people were selected at the Ghana auditions? Was Raymond selected because Project Fame judge Bibie Brew (also a judge on Stars of the Future) made it easy for him? Or was it the doing of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), because the union supervised the auditions in Ghana this time around? Or perhaps the producers of the show have to use a quota system to allocate representation from all competition so that there is a fair playing field.
If the last option were the case then we wouldn't have the unfair advantage that Nigeria continues to have on the competition which is tagged 'West Africa'. In all 11 Nigerians made it into the academy with 3 Liberians and a Sierra Leonean tagging along. They include: Anis (Sierra Leone), Damilola, David, Deniece (Liberia), Desmond, Jennifer, Krimi, Madonna, Mike, Nicholas (Liberia), Sametta (Liberia), Savannah, Tarri, Tomiwa and Zoe.
Judges Bibi Brew, Kwame and TY Mix returned this season alongside some old and new faculty members. Actress Joke Silva is still the principal; music expert, Ben Ogbeiwi is the Academy music director; singer and actress, Dupe Ige is the voice coach; Zarah Udofia is the dance instructor while Kayode Oyedepo is the physical instructor. The new hosts are Joseph Benjamin and the “adorable” Adora Oleh.