West Africa: Girls Rule West African Idols

West Africa: Girls Rule West African Idols

New Vision (Kampala)

March 29, 2007
Posted to the web March 30, 2007

Kalungi Kabuye
Kampala

SEVEN of the Top 10 in the Idols West Africa are women, and maybe we should not be surprised.

The last few reality shows on M-Net featuring music have been won by women, including Project Fame and Pop Idols.

For the last four weeks the Top 24, out of the thousands that took part in the auditions, have tussled it out for a place in the Top 10.

First we had Group 1, where everybody sang like a bird and it was a bit sad that only two were picked. Omawumi Megbele the lawyer and Timi Dakolo (Nigeria) who seemed simple but sang the stuffing out of his song.

Group 2 was a let down from the previous one and Jerrilyn Mulbah (Liberia) and Eric Arubayi (Sierra Leone) are lucky they were in such a lacklustre group.

So did Mercy Nwankwo (Nigeria) and Jodie Odiete (Nigeria) from Group 3, although they did save the day with their performances.

In fact, Jodie has been the only one to get a standing ovation from both the judges and the audience with her rendition of Bryan Adams' Have You Ever Loved a Woman.

Then Group 4 restored the faith in the West Africans and the choice difficult, but plain-faced Joan and explosive Temitayo George (Nigeria) were the fans' picks.

The judges were left with the chance of picking the last two. Group 1's Uche Ume (Nigeria) got the lucky nod, as did Omodele Fatoki (Nigeria) from Group 4. Starting this Sunday, all 10 contestants will perform and Africa will vote.

The one who gets the least votes leaves the next Monday.

This will go on for nine weeks till the last two, after which one will become the overall winner.