# Project Fame West Africa

Project Fame, also known as Project Fame West Africa or MTN Project Fame West Africa (for sponsorship purposes), is a music talent TV reality show filmed in Lagos and aired in the West African subcontinent. It is a regional version of Star Academy reality series that was developed and is licensed worldwide by Endemol. The show used to feature contestants from Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, but Liberia and Sierra Leone have been dropped since the 2014 Ebola Outbreak. The show is broadcast by networks in these four countries and across the African continent.
Run by Ultima production, Project Fame's inaugural season began in 2008. The production format consists of gala evenings held each Sunday night in prime time and hosted by Joseph Benjamin and Adaora Oleh. In season 7, Adaora was replaced with Bolanle Olukanni. Additionally, there's a weekly recap show and the Eviction night on Saturday night.
The jury is formed by three judges; Praiz, Bibie Brew and Tee-Y Mix, and Faculty members of the Academy which include: Joke Silva, Lovette Otegbola, Dupe Ige, Ben Ogbeiwi and Mr Gboyega Ayoade.
The show is notorious for its winners struggling to make a name for themselves in the industry after they win. Of all the contestants in the 9 seasons, only Iyanya, Chidinma, Praiz, Niniola and Johnny Drille have gone on to make various degrees of success in music; season 5 winner Ayoola went on to become a thriving TV star

## Winners & Runners-up

| Season | Year | Winner | Runner-up | Country |
| 1 | 2008 | Iyanya | | Nigeria |
| 2 | 2009 | Mike Anyasodo | | Nigeria |
| 3 | 2010 | Chidinma | | Nigeria |
| 4 | 2011 | Monica Ogah | | Nigeria |
| 5 | 2012 | Ayoola | Marvellous Odiete | Nigeria |
| 6 | 2013 | Olawale | | Nigeria |
| 7 | 2014 | Geoffrey Oji | | Nigeria |
| 8 | 2015 | Jeff Akoh | | Nigeria |
| 9 | 2016 | Okiemute Ighorodje | | Nigeria |

## Season 3 (2010)

| Candidate | Age | Residence | Result |
| Adebola Kester | 29 | Ghana | |
| Chidinma | 22 | Ikorodu, Nigeria | |
| Christian | 22 | Ashanti Region, Ghana | |
| Eyo | 29 | Lagos, Nigeria | |
| Kesse | 24 | Ghana | |
| Ochuko | | Lagos, Nigeria | |
| Tolu Adesina | 29 | Kaduna, Nigeria | |
| Yetunde | | Ibadan, Nigeria | |
| Joecelia Gbondo | | Freetown, Sierra Leone | 10th Evicted |
| Rhoda | 26 | Lagos, Nigeria | 9th Evicted |
| Vwede Akpoguma | | Benin, Nigeria | 8th Evicted |
| Helen Pajebo-Jackson | 23 | Monrovia, Liberia | 7th Evicted |
| Shehu | 30 | Kaduna, Nigeria | 6th Evicted |
| Monica | 24 | Enugu, Nigeria | 5th Evicted |
| Samuel Stryker | | Monrovia, Liberia | 4th Evicted |
| Modele | 22 | Abeokuta, Nigeria | 3rd Evicted |
| Lindsey | | Abuja, Nigeria | 2nd Evicted |
| Gold | 21 | Lagos, Nigeria | 1st Evicted |

### Gala evenings
#### 1st Live Show - Contestant's choice

| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Result |
| 1 | Tolu | "When a Man Loves a Woman" (Michael Bolton) | Safe |
| 2 | Rhoda | "For You I Will" (Monica) | Safe |
| 3 | Lindsey | "Time After Time" (Cyndi Lauper) | Safe |
| 4 | Joecelia | "Breathe Again" (Toni Braxton) | Safe |
| 5 | Helen | "Nothing Compares To You" (Sinéad O'Connor) | Safe |
| 6 | Vwede | "Coast to Coast" (Westlife) | Safe |
| 7 | Yetunde | "You Gotta Be" (Des'ree) | Safe |
| 8 | Eyo | "I Just Called To Say I Love You" (Stevie Wonder) | Safe |
| 9 | Chidinma | "Stickwitu" (The Pussycat Dolls) | Safe |
| 10 | Shehu | "Careless Whispers" (George Michael) | Safe |
| 11 | Modele | "Same Old Love" (Anita Baker) | Safe |
| 12 | Kesse | "Rock Me Tonight" (Freddie Jackson) | Safe |
| 13 | Gold | "Smooth Operator" (Sade Adu) | Safe |
| 14 | Samuel | "Lady In Red" (Chris de Burg) | Safe |
| 15 | Adebola | "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" (Whitney Houston) | Safe |
| 16 | Monica | "Still the One" (Shania Twain) | Safe |
| 17 | Christian | "No Matter Why" (Boyzone) | Safe |
| 18 | Ocuhko | "My Girl" (Temptations) | Safe |

#### 2nd Live Show - Aṣa & Tracy Chapman

Mentor: Aṣa
| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Result |
| 1 | Yetunde | "Eye Adaba" (Aṣa) | Safe |
| 2 | Eyo | "Change" (Tracy Chapman) | Safe |
| 3 | Joecelia | "Fire on the Mountain" (Aṣa) | Bottom Five |
| 4 | Shehu | "Kiss the Rain" (Tracy Chapman) | Bottom Five |
| 5 | Modele | "You're the One" (Tracy Chapman) | Bottom Five |
| 6 | Tolu | "Jailer Man" (Aṣa) | Safe |
| 7 | Rhoda | "For My Love" (Tracy Chapman) | Safe |
| 8 | Lindsey | "Give Me One Reason" (Tracy Chapman) | Eliminated |
| 9 | Chidinma | "Fast Cars" (Tracy Chapman) | Safe |
| 10 | Helen | "Sorry" (Tracy Chapman) | Safe |
| 11 | Vwede | "If You Want Me" (Tracy Chapman) | Safe |
| 12 | Christian | "360 Degrees" (Aṣa) | Safe |
| 13 | Ochuko | "She's Got Her Ticket" (Tracy Chapman) | Safe |
| 14 | Samuel | "Peace" (Aṣa) | Safe |
| 15 | Adebola | "Iba" (Aṣa) | Safe |
| 16 | Monica | "Why?" (Tracy Chapman) | Safe |
| 17 | Gold | "Waidi" (Aṣa) | Eliminated |
| 18 | Kesse | "So Beautiful" (Aṣa) | Safe |

#### 3rd Live Show - Reggae

Mentor: Samini
| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Result |
| 1 | Ochuko | "Rock Me Baby" (Johnny Nash) | Safe |
| 2 | Christian | "I Shot the Sheriff" (Bob Marley) | Safe |
| 3 | Joecelia | "Cherry Oh Baby" (UB40) | Safe |
| 4 | Monica | "Pass the Dutchie" (Musical Youth) | Safe |
| 5 | Modele | "Rat Race" (Mandators) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Eyo | "Romba Stylee" (Ras Kimono) | Safe |
| 7 | Tolu | "Get Up, Stand Up" (Bob Marley) | Safe |
| 8 | Chidinma | "Gnashing of Teeth" (Mighty Diamonds) | Safe |
| 9 | Helen | "Just Don't Wanna be Lonely" (Freddie McGregor) | Bottom Five |
| 10 | Rhoda | "Mama Africa" (Peter Tosh) | Bottom Five |
| 11 | Vwede | "Kpobaro" (Evi Edna) | Safe |
| 12 | Samuel | "Don't Turn Around" (Aswad) | Eliminated |
| 13 | Adebola | "I Wanna Wake Up With You" (Boris Gardiner) | Bottom Five |
| 14 | Shehu | "Back To My Roots" (Lucky Dube) | Safe |
| 15 | Kesse | "Land of my Birth" (Eric Donaldson) | Safe |
| 16 | Yetunde | "I Need a Roof" (Mighty Diamonds) | Safe |

#### 4th Live Show - African Night

Mentor: Lagbaja
| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Result |
| 1 | Eyo | "Lady" (Fela) | Safe |
| 2 | Shehu | "Coolu Temper" (Lagbaja) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Joecelia | "I Shall Sing" (Miriam Makeba) | Safe |
| 4 | Monica | "Nigeria Go Survive" (Veno) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Kesse | "Dambebi" (Ofori Amponsah) | Safe |
| 6 | Chidinma | "Ipi Tombia" (Miriam Mekeba) | Safe |
| 7 | Rhoda | "I'm Burning Up" (Yvonne Chaka Chaka) | Bottom Five |
| 8 | Helen | "Taxi Driver" (Mandy Brown) | Safe |
| 9 | Vwede | "Rhumba Dance" (Mike Okri) | Bottom Five |
| 10 | Tolu | "Palava" (Fela) | Safe |
| 11 | Adebola | "Thank you Mr. DJ" (Yvonne Chaka Chaka) | Bottom Five |
| 12 | Yetunde | "Wombo Lombo" (Angélique Kidjo) | Safe |
| 13 | Christian | "Wo Se Keta A Bae Mu" (Daddy Lumba) | Safe |
| 14 | Ochuko | "Konko Below" (Lagbaja) | Safe |

#### 5th Live Show - Soft Rock and Soul

Mentor: Frank Edoho
| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Result |
| 1 | Adebola | "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman" (Celine Dion) | Safe |
| 2 | Yetunde | "Big Girls Don't Cry" (Fergie) | Safe |
| 3 | Eyo | "Three Times A Lady" (Kenny Rogers) | Safe |
| 4 | Joecelia | "It's My House" (Diana Ross) | Safe |
| 5 | Kesse | "Knocking on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan) | Safe |
| 6 | Rhoda | "Runaway" (The Corrs) | Safe |
| 7 | Vwede | "Take My Breath Away" (Berlin) | Safe |
| 8 | Tolu | "First Cut Is The Deepest" (Rod Stewart) | Safe |
| 9 | Ochuko | "One More Night" (Phil Collins) | Safe |
| 10 | Christian | "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (Simply Red) | Safe |
| 11 | Helen | "Lake A Prayer" (Madonna) | Safe |
| 12 | Chidinma | "I Want To Know What Love Is" (Mariah Carey) | Safe |

#### 6th Live Show - Classic Duets & Evergreen Disco Songs

Mentor: Yinka Davies
| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Result |
| 1 | Eyo | "Same Girl" (Usher & R. Kelly) | Safe |
| 1 | Kesse | "Same Girl" (Usher & R. Kelly) | Safe |
| 2 | Christian | "Two Wrongs" (Wyclef Jean & Claudette Ortizt) | Bottom 5 |
| 2 | Helen | "Two Wrongs" (Wyclef Jean & Claudette Ortizt) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Vwede | "Love of My Life" (George Benson & Roberta Flack) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Adebola | "Love of My Life" (George Benson & Roberta Flack) | Safe |
| 4 | Joecelia | "I Got You Babe" (UB40) | Safe |
| 4 | Ochuko | "I Got You Babe" (UB40) | Bottom 5 |
| 5 | Tolu | "My Boo" (Usher & Alicia Keys) | Safe |
| 5 | Chidinma | "My Boo" (Usher & Alicia Keys) | Safe |
| 6 | Rhoda | "Frankie" (Sister Sledge) | Bottom 5 |
| 6 | Yetunde | "Frankie" (Sister Sledge) | Safe |
| 7 | Eyo | "Cassanova" (Gerald Levert) | Safe |
| 8 | Kesse | "Ladies Man" (Kool & the Gang) | Safe |
| 9 | Helen | "Ain’t Nobody" (Chaka Khan) | Eliminated |
| 10 | Christian | "Rock The Boat" (The Hues Corporation) | Bottom 5 |
| 11 | Vwede | "Night Shift" (The Commodores) | Eliminated |
| 12 | Adebola | "Staying Alive" (Bee Gees) | Safe |
| 13 | Joecelia | "I'm in Love" (Evlyn King) | Safe |
| 14 | Ochuko | "Wet My Whistle" (Midnight Star) | Bottom 5 |
| 15 | Tolu | "Caribbean Quee" (Billy Ocean) | Safe |
| 16 | Chidinma | "I'm Every Woman" (Whitney Houston) | Safe |
| 17 | Yetunde | "Somebody Else's Guy" (Jocelyn Brown) | Safe |
| 18 | Rhoda | "Ring My Bell" (Anita Ward) | Bottom 5 |

#### 7th Live Show - Afro-Caribbean night

Mentor: Onyeka Onwenu
| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Result |
| 1 | Adebola | "Halleluyah" (Onyeka Onwenu) | Bottom 5 |
| 2 | Eyo | "Ifeoma" (Felix Lebarty) | Safe |
| 3 | Joecelia | "Baby Let Me Love You" (Bonny Macs) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Kesse | "Searching" (Bongos Ikwe) | Safe |
| 5 | Christian | "Bonsue" (Joe Mensah) | Safe |
| 6 | Yetunde | "Jafunmi" (Sunny Adé) | Bottom 5 |
| 7 | Chidinma | "Ekwe" (Onyeka Onwenu) | Safe |
| 8 | Tolu | "You & I" (Onyeka Onwenu) | Safe |
| 9 | Rhoda | "Hot Hot Hot" (Mighty Diamonds) | Eliminated |
| 10 | Ochuko | "Afro Juju" (Sir Shina Peters) | Bottom 5 |

### Elimination chart

Elimination Chart :
| | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Adebola | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN |
| Chidinma | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN |
| Christian | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN |
| Eyo | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN |
| Kesse | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN |
| Ochuko | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN |
| Tolu | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN |
| Yetunde | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN |
| Rhoda | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT |
| Joecelia | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT |
| Vwede | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT | |
| Helen | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT | |
| Shehu | IN | IN | OUT | | | |
| Monica | IN | IN | OUT | | | |
| Samuel | IN | OUT | | | | |
| Modele | IN | OUT | | | | |
| Lindsey | OUT | | | | | |
| Gold | OUT | | | | | |
    The contestant won the show
    The contestant lost in the final
    The contestant was in the Bottom Five, but saved by the jury
    The contestant was in the Bottom Five, but saved by the academy
    The contestant was in the Bottom Five, but saved by the students
    The contestant was eliminated

## Season 8 (2015)

Season 8 is being broadcast on TVC, MITV, DBN, SOUNDCITY, ONTV and GETTV. the finalists are Ada, Anderson, Arewa, Deinde, Jeff & pearl.