With Theatre Week over, the spotlight beamed on the remaining 11 contestants of Nigerian Idol Season 6, Nigeria’s biggest music talent show.
They had to take on the task of performing to impress the judges – Seyi Shay, Obi Asika, and DJ Sose – as well as the viewing fans at home. Sunday, May 9, 2021, was the day for the first live performances of the season, and there was a lot to play for: the two contestants with the least votes would be eliminated. It felt like being in the gladiators’ arenas of Ancient Rome, where the roaring public got to choose who got spared and who ended up being executed.
The theme of this week’s performance was “African Legends”, and 23-year-old Akunna stepped up to deliver her rendition of Angelique Kidjo’s “Wombo Lombo”. Dressed in a regal purple dress, she clearly showed that her voice had recovered from the setback of Theatre Week. Assisted by a live band, she delivered an energetic performance that was well-received by the judges: DJ Sose commented on her growth, and Seyi Shay remarked that Akunna had put up a “fantastic” display.
Beyonce had chosen to perform Angelique Kidjo’s “Agolo”, revealing that it was a song that she enjoyed listening to in her childhood days. Matching the energy of an African classic is no easy task, but she put in a good shift, with Seyi Shay stating that her voice had become “a lot stronger”, and Obi Asika commenting on her improved confidence.
Clinton dedicated his cover of “Sweet Mother”, the classic composed by the late Prince Nico Mbarga, to his mother. Assisted by an enthusiastic live band and backing vocalists, he delivered an energetic performance, with cute dance moves to boot. Obi Asika lauded his infusion of ad-libs, but DJ Sose noted that there was a drop in the quality of delivery.
Styl-Plus’ 2004 classic “Olufunmi” was the song that Comfort chose to attempt covering in her live performance. She struggled with her vocal pitching, and the judges felt that she did not bring her A-game, even though Obi Asika commended her fashion choices.
Daniel, dressed in a red suit, elected to try out Lucky Dube’s reggae hit “I’ve Got You Babe”. Obi Asika noted that he looked comfortable, and DJ Sose seemed to enjoy the performance too.
Dotun, who opted to perform a cover of Miriam Makeba’s “Malaika”, was praised by Obi Asika and DJ Sose for his vocal range and emotive display, and Seyi Shay described the rendition as “captivating.” Emmanuel handed in a scintillating cover of Majek Fashek’s “Send Down The Rain”, earning plaudits from the judges for his “stage presence” and “originality.”
Donning a bowler hat, Faith went for Victor Uwaifo’s “Joromi”, with some help from the live band. He maintained his vocal energy from start to finish, and the judges seemed pretty pleased with his performance.
Salif Keita’s “Africa” is a difficult pick for any singer, but Faith Mac stepped up to the plate, bringing the high pitch and strong projection that the song deserved.
Francis took on Lucky Dube’s “Remember Me” for his live performance, partly because his father loved the song, and partly because he wanted to spare a few thoughts for people who had to grow up without a father figure. He seemed to enjoy himself, Seyi Shay positively commented on his vocal range, and Obi Asika also felt that the singing was “emotive.”
The final performance of the night had Kingdom performing Lebo M’s “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (from the movie Lion King), a rendition which sat well with the judges: Obi Asika commented on his “presence.”
Were the judges a little too nice on the day? Did the contestants play safe with their song choices? Why didn’t the viewers get a cover of a Fela song (too energy-demanding, perhaps)? These questions are subject to conjecture, but one thing that was obvious from the live performances was that everyone, from the live band to the host, was treated to a musical feast.
At this stage of Nigerian Idol Season 6, power is solely in the hands of the viewers, as they get to determine who stays and who leaves. To vote for your favourite contestants and keep them in the competition, send “Vote” and the contestant’s unique number (1-11) to 32053 at the cost of N30 per SMS. You can also register on the MyDStv App and MyGOtv App to vote for free. The best part is, you can actually vote more than once. The voting window closes by 9.00 pm on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
Nigerian Idol Season 6 is sponsored by Bigi Drinks and Tecno Mobile. To catch up on the live performances by the Top 11, viewers can tune in to Channel 198 on DStv and Channel 29 on GOtv. They can also follow this season of Nigerian Idol via the DStv app on multiple devices at no additional cost. The app is available for download on iOS and Android devices. For more information, visit www.africamagic.tv/nigerianidol .
