Nigerian Music - Singing To Glory

Source:Bisis Sogeyigbo, The News, October 12, 2009

All along, the atmosphere had been soaked in tension. But by the time the winner of the first edition of Naija Sings, a reality TV talent hunt show, was announced on Saturday 3 October, delirium had taken over. This much was displayed by John Jon Ogah, an 18-year-old Economics undergraduate of the University of Abuja, the first winner of the show.

Immediately he was announced the winner, Jon went wild with excitement. Who would not be? With a $100,000 prize money, a recording contract with Storm 360 Records and an opportunity to perform at this year’s Channel O Awards, Jon could even be said to have been modest in his exhilaration.

His modesty, according to him, was informed by his respect for the other contestants, particularly Tamara and Tarila who emerged first and second runners-up respectively. To many, the indicator could have pointed towards any of the troika if judges had been allowed to do the selection.

Yet Tamara and Tarila were unanimous in their decision that Jon deserved the crown. His first single, Gbedu, is already in the studio awaiting its release. While speaking with TheNEWS magazine, Jon noted that a lot of hardwork and dedication was put in by him to emerge the winner. “I did not win the talent show because of my looks, but because I’m a good listener. There were times I did not think I would win because everybody has different talent, and is good in different ways,” he said.

The handsome teenager said he is capable of successfully managing his newfound fame and fortune. According to him: “I can handle the $100,000 despite my age, and my personality will never change. I give thanks to the organisers, the press and of course my great fans. I hope to meet the expectations of everyone.”

Jon’s journey to stardom was, however, not a smooth one. It began when he decided to attend the screening of participants for the show at Abuja. Invariably, he was picked as one of the 14 contestants spread across the cities of Abuja, Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Jos, Kaduna and Lagos. Besides, many argued that Tamara and Tarila would have made better winners. But the audience thought otherwise.

And unlike in other reality TV shows where the judges decide who moved on to the next stage, Jon and his co-travelers had to rely on the mercy of viewers who chose who stayed and who left. Other contestants included Damiloye, Ovie, Angelic Voice, Riola, Shim, Morgan, Steve, Covenant Manasseh and Goodness.

With Jon, Tamara and Tarila surviving the tide to the final stage, it was quite difficult for Olisa Adibua, presenter of the show, to predict the winner. Thus, before announcing the winner, the trio had to perform Onyeka Onwenu’s One Love, as a group, before individually performing new numbers composed especially for them.

The show, which lasted for about a month, was put together by Storm 360 Records, Never Machine and M-Net. According to Biola Alabi, Managing Director of M-NetAfrica, the show remains an avenue for the Nigerian youth to engage in things that would take their minds away from social vices. Obi Asika, chairman of Storm 360 Records, reckons with Alabi. “I thank M-Net for a job well done and the opportunity given to me. The journey was long,” Asika concluded.