Meet The 17 Finalists On Project Fame West Africa Season IV

Hosts - Joseph Benjamin and Adora

The fourth season of the popular TV reality show, MTN Project Fame West Africa has kicked off and a total of 17 contestants as opposed to last year’s 18 have already been inducted into the house. They will start to receive training on vocals, dance and composing music amongst other essential training.
This years contestants fields 14 Nigerians while the three other contestants – Ethel, Princess and Velma represent Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone respectively.
Check out the profiles of each contestant and pick one or two contestants who you will be rooting for this year…

Aziga

Name: Aziga
Age: 24
Biography: Dark skinned Aziga is a calm and collected graduate of Political Science from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Born in the beautiful city of Markurdi where he spent his childhood experiencing traditional northern music, he is musically Nigerian and loves the music of Banky W, Timaya, and Tuface Idibia. He also admires works from Chinua Achebe, Niyi Osundare, Sam Loco Efe (RIP) and other Nigerian artistes. His favorite foreign artiste remains Lionel Richie. He says he is ready for the challenge and plans to enjoy every minute in the Academy!

Chidinma

Name: Chidinma
Age: 19
Chidinma is a student of the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State of Nigeria. She is the second child but first girl in a family of seven people, two dogs – Bully and Hitler, and Sarafina, her adorable cat. Fluent in English and Igbo languages, she loves to watch herself sing or act in the mirror and her favourite place is home. In her leisure and at weekends, she swims, watches movies, does house chores and attends church. She admires Beyonce, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson and Genevieve Nnaji. She looks forward to the Academy being interesting, educative, fun filled, and inspirational.

Emmanuel

Name: Emmanuel
Age: 26
Emmanuel alias ‘Zerubabel’ is a 26 year old student of Political Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Osun State, Nigeria. He comes from a large nuclear family and is the tenth child of four sons and six daughters. Emmanuel began singing early in life. When his family fell into hard times, singing together became a source of solace and this was when Music became an even bigger part of Emmanuel’s life. He derives inspiration from J Moss and Asa. Emmanuel imagines that the Academy will be challenging and inspiring and he is looking forward to this.

Ese

Name: Ese
Age: 25
Ese is a big, bold and beautiful 25 year old born in Lagos State, Nigeria. She has a lovely ebony complexion, hails from Delta State and speaks fluent Yoruba and English. Many artistes inspire her but so far, Beyonce Knowles and Omawumi have struck the biggest chords with Ese. In her own words, Ese is in the Academy to learn and give stardom a shot. This is a huge challenge as she agrees but then, she says… ‘I’m not nervous, I’m actually calm’.

Ethel

Name: Ethel
Age: 19
Ethel, the first of six children says she loves her father, enjoys his attention and is regarded as dad’s ‘girlfriend’. She is an R&B lover and her favourite artistes include Beyonce Knowles and Kojo Antwi. Despite being pretty young, Ethel directs her church choir and is grateful to her pastor and his wife for encouraging her thus far. She is passionate about good music and absolutely loves to sing, dance and write songs. Ethel says she is ready to live and give her best in the Academy and is determined to do Ghana proud by bringing back the winning prize.

Isaac

Name: Isaac
Age: 26
Isaac started singing at age 8 in his church choir and his career as a singer has been greatly spurred by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Neyo and Jazmine Sullivan. Isaac would never tire of eating well prepared rice and spaghetti laced with lots of vegetables. The Chubby fellow who likes to look on the bright side of life, says that he is more that ready to give his best in the competition.He is fluent in English and Yoruba languages and Lagos is where he calls ‘home’.

Joba

Name: Joba
Age: 23
After mastering the drums Joba took an interest in singing and kept singing through his degree in Human Physiology, at the University of Ilorin Nigeria. He is the firstbrorn and has a wonderful brother and sister. After NYSC he has found a sense of purpose working with his mum –at the Sickle Cell Foundation-An NGO, creating awareness about prevention and management of the condition. He says his favourite artistes and authors include the likes of Darey Art Alade, Brian McKnight, RMD, Denzel Washington Sydney Sheldon, among others.

Joe

Name: Joe
Age: 25
Though he has always dreamt of being a lawyer, Joe’s love for music has subdued every other dream, and he believes he has a good chance at winning MTN Project Fame West Africa Season Four. Joseph’s taste in music has been influenced by the likes of R. Kelly, Boys2Men, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Eric Benet. He has earned a BSc in Political Science from Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State.

Kamar

Name: Kamar
Age: 23
Kamar plays the guitar and keyboard, drums, and sings. He is the second of three boys and hails from Kaduna State of Nigeria. He is a student of the University of Abuja, Nigeria, and speaks Hausa, English, Kagoro and a little Yoruba. Kamar’s favourite artistes include Ne-Yo, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Banky-W, Sound Sultan, Bez, Darey, WizKid, Mariah Carey, 112, Usher, Joe, Doneh Jones. He expects the academy to be fun and competitive.

Monica

Name: Monica
Age: 22
Monica is a Benue state singer, who started singing early in life and has found fulfillment in it. She is the last child of a family of four boys and two girls, and she holds family dear to her heart. She likes to use her hands and enjoys nail grooming, braiding and fashion designing. In her leisure, she sings, writes songs, reads and watches movies. She totally adores artistes like Brandy, Tiwa Savage, Stella Damascus, Asa, Majid Michael. Her one must-have item is her Bible. She looks forward to a challenging time in the Academy but promises to have as much fun as she can.

Princess

Name: Princess
Age: 20
Princess is a young Liberian singer. She  started singing at age eleven. As a high school student, she joined her school and church choirs and got a scholarship from her school for her singing abilities. She won the keenly contested ‘A Star is Born’ 2011 Edition of Liberia’s music reality TV show that featured myriads of talented singers. Apart from coming out tops, one of her biggest hopes for the competition is to bring pride to Liberia much the same way as Nicholas Buigar did in season two.

Rachel

Name: Rachel
Age: 22
Pretty Rachael is the daughter of a naval officer father and a mother who is a caterer. She grew up an ardent music lover and joined the choir at the tender age of 6. Rachel comes across as soft spoken and reserved; but stops at nothing to sing her way into the hearts of her audience; indeed it seems that singing is where she has channeled all of her depth and energy of expression. In a bid to take her musical career to the next level, she decided to try out for the Project Fame Academy and hopes to sing her way to the very top of the competition.

Roy

Name: Roy
Age: 27
Roy will stop at nothing to be the best at what he is out to do. The tallest dude in the academy is the third of five boys and one girl and speaks Igbo and English Languages. He started singing as a child. He remembers his days at the University of Benin fondly and enjoys meeting people and loved his former job as a Customer Service Officer.The ever-smiling Roy says his singing has been influenced by artistes like Michael Bolton, J Moss, John Legend and a few others.

Ruth

Name: Ruth
Age: 22
Ruth believes women should stand up and give life their best. She graduated with a BSc in Philosophy & Logic from the great Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, Nigeria and is fluent in English, French and Igbo. She loves singing, writing and spends her leisure time reading. Her favourite artistes include Beyonce Knowles, Omawumi, Darey Art Alade. Her favorite actor is Mike Ezuronye. Ruthloves a lot of comedy and is determined to make a mark in the Project Fame Academy.

Velma

Name: Velma
Age: 28
Velma is a pretty Freetown born singer, who has been singing from childhood. She fluently speaks English and Krio languages, loves cooking, dancing and spending quality time with her friends. Velma’s style of singing has been influenced by Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Keri Hilson. Velma who hails from Sierra Leone is particularly excited because she is following after Brenda –her aunt who made it to the academy in the first season of Project Fame West Africa.

Yvonne

Name: Yvonne
Age: 20
Yvonne is a student of International Studies and Diplomacy of the University of Benin. Born in Lagos, and an indigene of Anambra State, he loves swimming, which she describes as her second passion. Yvonne also loves to watch movies as well as do a lot of writing.  Even though Project Fame will be her first experience with performing for a crowd, she is willing to give it her best shot. She expects the Academy to offer “good family-like bonding” and hopes that beyond the learning and performing, long lasting friendships will be born.

Zaliha

Name: Zaliha
Age: 20
Zaliha is a Physiology student of the great Ahmadu Bello University, Kaduna State of Nigeria. She speaks Hausa, English and Yoruba languages and likes to read, sing, watch movies and visit friends. She has a voice that catches people by surprise as it did the Project fame judges. With a voice like that coming from Zaliha’s small frame, a lot is to be expected. She’s set to take her singing abilities to the next level and believes that Project Fame Academy is the one place where she can achieve her dreams if becoming a professional singer.