YEKA ONKA BECOMES FIRST NIGERIAN IDOL
It was mixed feelings at the Dream studio last Sunday when the
Nigerian voting public chose Onyeka Gilbert (popularly called Yeka
Onka) winner of the first Nigerian Idol on Sunday March 27, 2011.
“I am really excited for this, it took me a while to get to this
point, I was rejected in Enugu and Abuja, before I came down to Lagos
and then I got the golden ticket. I loved the experience, all through
the six months, And now here I am walking away with the grand prize”
Yeka Onka said, screaming and jumping, before leaving the stage
To a number of people, fan-favorite Naomi Mac would have been a better
option, but to a number of the other finalists, Onka as they have all
come to call her is the best option “I think viewers did the right
thing by voting Onyeka as the first Idol because she is a total
package, she sings really well and she has good interpersonal
relationship. I thank God for her” AJ one of the finalists says.
“I campaigned for Yeka; I really wanted her to win, and I am excited”
Bibi said amidst tears.
The tears didn’t stop with Bibi. AJ, Emmanuel, Chito, Nina, Zoe and
Naomi’s parents all cried as jubilation consumed the entire studio.
26 year-old Onyeka Gilbert a.k.a Yeka Onka looks like a model straight
from a fashion magazine. Her looks don’t lie because Yeka is indeed a
former beauty Queen. She was crowned The Most beautiful Girl in Abia
state at a beauty pageant in 2006. Winning the beauty pageant opened
up a lot of doors for her but according to the tall, dark beauty being
the Queen of Abia didn’t really pan out well as she expected.
The word ‘no’ simply does not exist in Yeka’s dictionary. Rather than
accept ‘no’ from the Idol judges at the audition stage, she embarked
on an ‘Idol mini tour’ that took her from Enugu to Calabar and finally
Lagos where she eventually got her ‘Yes’! She says she probably
couldn’t have done it alone but for the chance meeting with an Idol
crew member after her first rejection in Enugu. The crew member had
encouraged her then by saying “it’s not how hard you fall but it’s
what you do after you fall”. With that mentality she gave the
competition all that she’s got.
“Here’s a toast to Onyeka who beat all the odds by becoming the first
Nigerian Idol, She thoroughly deserves her victory and we should all
applaud her and support her” was all a fulfilled Rotimi Pedro (MD OF
Optima Media group) could say at the star studded gala event .
The event which first started with a red carpet reception; with
cocktails and canapes, attracted first-class celebs from the music,
movie and fashion industries, as well as guests drawn from a pool of
Idols fans and voters.
“Just got off stage, wow I must say I loved the audience at Nigerian
Idol, I definitely sang my little heart out” Fast-rising female singer
Tiwa Savage who performed at the grand finale pre show posted on
twitter few minutes after performing. The audience was also thrilled
with performances from West African Idol winner Timi Dakolo, R&B star
Banky W, Retta and Praiz
Perhaps the highlight of the grand finale was when the two finalists
sang “Seun Rere” with the lady of song Christy Essein Igbokwe
And finally, the TV reality show which has been the talk of the town
since kicking off in November 2010 has come to an end with Yeka Onka
becoming the first-ever Nigerian Idol
She returned home with a recording contract, 7.5Million naira courtesy
Etisalat and Royal Exchange, a brand new car courtesy Tom Tom and a
Sony entertainment TV center.
But just like Audu Maikori commented during the final show, Yeka is
not the only winner; first runner-up Naomi won N1.5M cash prize, a
Blackberry phone, Ipad, Ipod, Easy Card, standing Fridge, PS3 and
other goodies. Emmanuel, the second runner up also left with N1M,
Blackberry phone, Ipad, Ipod, Easy Card, standing Fridge, PS3. Other
11 finalists also went back to their base with lavish gifts from the
show’s sponsors.
‘But I must insist, Pedro comments, ‘that the real prize these young
people are walking away with, is the opportunities that this platform
presents; the opportunity to cultivate whatever fan base they’ve been
able to build while here, and use all the resources available to them
to build a lasting career for themselves in the entertainment
industry’
Meanwhile, the producers are already gearing up for the second episode
of Nigerian Idol as audition forms became available on the official
website www.nigerianidol.com at midnight on March 27, 2011.
EDITORS’ NOTE
ABOUT YEKA ONKA
Onyeka Gilbert a.k.a Yeka Onka looks like a model straight from a
fashion magazine. Her looks don’t lie because Yeka is indeed a former
beauty Queen. She was crowned Queen of Abia at a beauty pageant in
2006. Winning the beauty pageant opened up a lot of doors for her but
according to the tall, dark beauty being the Queen of Abia didn’t
really pan out well as she expected.
The beauty pageant was an aside for her really. Her real passion in
life had always been music. From a tender age, she had been singing
with her family band. “My father was the leader of the band and he
played the saxophone, guitar and the piano very well. My mum was the
lead vocalist while me, my sisters and my brothers were backups.”
The family band however ‘part-disbanded’ in 2001 at the death of her
mother and then fully so at the death of her father 5 years later in
2006. After her parents died, Gospel reggae artiste, Buchi took her
under his wings and became her mentor.
Yeka’s confidence was not dented by her orphan state. The word ‘no’
simply does not exist in her dictionary. Rather than accept ‘no’ from
the Idol judges at the audition stage, the 26 year old beauty embarked
on an ‘Idol mini tour’ that took her from Enugu to Calabar and finally
Lagos where she eventually got her ‘Yes’! She says she probably
couldn’t have done it alone but for the chance meeting with an Idol
crew member after her first rejection in Enugu. The crew member had
encouraged her then by saying “it’s not how hard you fall but it’s
what you do after you fall”. With that mentality she is giving
Nigerian Idol all that she’s got.
ABOUT NIGERIAN IDOL
IN 2010, Optima Media Group (OMG) acquired the license to produce and
air the Idols reality show format throughout Nigeria and Pan Africa
with the intent to produce a true talented international artiste
The British talent search television series Pop Idol has spawned
spin-offs in 42 territories, in what is now referred to as the “Idols”
format, as described by Fremantle Media.
Just like the premise of the original show Pop Idol, Nigerian Idol is
a television reality show with a nation-wide search for Nigeria’s next
solo superstar aims to offer one young talent the opportunity that raw
talented singers have until now, only dreamed of.
Nigerian Idol aims to find the best singer in the country who can be
defined as the “National” singer, and International Artiste. One
contestant will win a top quality management deal and a recording
contract with an international record label, setting them on the path
to stardom; a path to fame and fortune, and above all – an opportunity
to finally fulfill their life-long dreams.
In July, applications were made available to talented singers across
Nigeria, aged between 18-28 to audition for the chance to be the next
2face Idibia, Alicia Keys, Asa, Rihanna, Darey or Neyo.
In 2010, a panel of three judges Audu Maikori, Yinka Davies and
Jeffery Daniel were saddled with the responsibility of sourcing for
the first Nigerian Idol. Their journey through Enugu, Abuja, Calabar
and Lagos eventually paid off with Yeka Onka becoming the first
Nigerian Idol on March 27, 2011
For full details on Nigerian Idol, plus show excerpts, pictures, bios
etc. Please visit www,nigerianidol.com or contact Nike Fagbule on
nike@bhmng.com
