Nigerian Idol, a reality TV singing competition is back for another season of discovering raw talent and transforming them into superstars. If you ever wondered how the show came to be, relax, grab a drink and let us take you through the journey of how Nigerian Idol came to be.

The origin

Nigerian Idol is the local adaptation of the globally acclaimed Idol series franchise, which originated from the UK as Pop Idol. It was developed by British producer Simon Fuller and produced by Fremantle; and since 2001, this groundbreaking franchise has taken the world by storm to become the most widely watched television franchise.

The first season of Nigerian Idol aired in October 2010 with the theme "Live Your Dream. Accept No Limitation." This season gave us the first winner, Onyekachi Elizabeth Gilbert Onwuka aka "yeka onka", who was awarded the sum of 7.5 million Naira, a recording contract with Sony, a car and an all-expense-paid trip to South Africa.

After a five-year break, Nigerian Idol made a grand comeback in 2021. Multichoice secured the rights to the show, with Tecno Mobile and Bigi Drinks coming on board as sponsors. Obi Asika, Seyi Shay, and DJ Sose took the judge's seats, while IK Osakioduwa returned as the host.

How does it work?

Nigerian Idol often starts with open auditions. At this stage, a call for entry is deployed and singers from all over Nigeria with big dreams and even bigger voices audition in front of a panel of renowned judges in the music industry. Following this stage is the theatre round where successful auditionees showcase their talent through group and solo performances, with the judges carefully selecting the best singers to move forward.

The competition heats up in the semi-finals and during the live shows as the remaining contestants perform live every week, with viewers voting to keep their favourites in the running. This builds up to the grand finale where the top two finalists battle it out in a spectacular live show, and the winner is crowned based on how the audience vote.

Who are the judges?

Over the seasons, Nigerian Idol has seen a diverse panel of judges - all music industry veterans, who offer valuable critique and guidance to the contestants. For season one, Yinka Davies (singer), Audu Maikori (founder of Chocolate city entertainment) and Jeffrey Daniel (former Shalamar singer/dancer) were selected to be the judges. Other notable judges who have graced the Nigerian Idol panel include Charly Boy, Femi Kuti, Naeto C, Darey, Nneka, Dede Mabiaku, Obi Asika, Seyi Shay, Dbanj and Simi.
In this new season, our line-up of judges are songstress Omawunmi, the soulful R&B crooner, Ric Hassani, and the legendary lyricist, 9ice. Each one of these judges will be bringing their valuable insights, creativity and experience, all of which the contestants need to attain new heights and realise their musical dreams.

Who are the winners?

Nigerian Idol has launched the careers of some of Nigeria's most talented singers. Past winners include Mercy Chinwo, Moses Obi Adigwe, Evelle, K-Peace, and in most recent years, Kingdom Kroseide (2021), Progress Chukwuyem (2022) and Victory Gbakara (2023).

Victory Gbakara not only joined the elite group of winners, he also received the grand prize of ₦‎35m cash, a brand new SUV, one Bigi refrigerator and with one year supply of Bigi soft drinks, an all-expense paid trip courtesy Tecno, a music record deal by a reputable label that will also include a video shoot, one year supply of WAW detergent, and a fully installed DStv Explora decoder with one year of premium subscription.

What to expect in season 9

Nigerian Idol Season 9, with its theme "Let Your Dreams Take Flight", will premiere on Sunday 21 April at 7pm WAT on all Africa Magic Channels - Showcase (DStv ch. 151, GOtv ch. 12), and Family (DStv ch. 154, GOtv ch. 2). Live performances will begin from Sunday 26 May, 2024. Get ready to experience heart-stopping auditions, jaw-dropping performances, emotional moments and honest critique from the judges as the season progresses.

Don't miss out on the exciting journey to discover the next Nigerian Idol. Reconnect now to MyDStv and MyGOtv to catch all the electrifying performances, and behind-the-scenes action.