# Channel O Sprite Emcee Africa tour

The Channel 0 Emcee Africa tour is a tour that is sponsored by Sprite. It was associated with Emcee Africa - The Battle Chronicles, a talent show televising the competition. It was a continent-wide search for the premier freestyle MC/Rapper. The tour started in Accra, Ghana, and then went through Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Nairobi, Kenya, Luanda, Angola, Lagos, Nigeria and Johannesburg, South Africa. Gaborone, Botswana was included in the second season, while Luanda, Angola and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania were cut from the tour.
The motive of the tour was not only to find the best freestyle MC, but to initiate international awareness of the 'street life' surrounding social and cultural context of the localized music. In other words, the tour was attempting to better contextualize the application and reception of hip hop culture in each visited country.
The winner received $10,000, a video and a song deal.

## Format and rules

The first season of Emcee Africa followed the host Leslie 'Lee' Kasumba to the various host cities, where the local MC/Rapper's were invited to an audition. The final eight MC's were selected to face off in a knockout competition to determine the winner. During the auditions, each performer had two minutes to prove their candidacy for the final eight to a panel of judges. A topic was given to each contender to Freestyle about in order to ensure each contestant was truly improvising and not using any written material. After eight contestants were selected from each country, a separate contest was held, where the eight members would face off to battle each other in two 30 second parts, divided into 2 rounds, followed by the Final. The winner from each country was then flown into Johannesburg to compete for the "Emcee Africa" title, as well as the grand prize. A judge from each country's panel was then flown in to ensure neutrality in the final competition.
The second season followed a similar format with similar rules, except that ten contenders were selected from the auditions, rather than eight. In the second season, contestants who made it through to the second round did not Battle each other but were rather judged based on a performance. From the performance, the judges panel selected two finalists to face off in a final battle.

## Wildcard

For the Final Battle in the first season, audiences could log into www.channelo.co.za, and vote for their favorite MC/Rapper from the previous competitions, to reappear in the final stages.

## Host

Leslie 'Lee' Kasumba (a top hip hop radio DJ from South Africa's YFM station) is the host. She also corresponds for Africanhiphop.com.
On the tour called 'the Battle Chronicles', she was chosen to narrate her daily experiences of traveling.

## Quotes

"Never before has a continental Hip Hop reality based competition such as this existed."

## Emcee Africa 1
### Ghana

Date: Saturday, 22 December 2007 Location: Usher Forte, Accra, Ghana Co-Host: Eddy Blay (XFM) Judges: Dj Black (Ghanaian DJ), Kwame Swift, Reggie Rockstone
Final 8: Grafik, ID, J Town, Melodrama, Padlock, Rhyme Miller, Robin Hood, Trigger
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Final Battle |
| ID | | |
| Trigger | | |
| Trigger | ID | |
| | J Town | |
| J Town | J Town | |
| Robin Hood | | |
| Robin Hood | | J Town |
| | | Padlock |
| Melodrama | | | Padlock |
| Padlock | | |
| Padlock | Padlock | |
| | Grafik | |
| Grafik | Grafik | |
| Rhyme Miller | | |

### Tanzania

Date: Saturday, 12 January 2008 Location: TCC Social Club, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Co-Host: Reuben (Clouds FM) Judges: Lindu, Lufunyo, Professor Jay
Final 8: Abbas, Adili, God Emcee, Neville, Phoenix, Rage, Randal, X-Wray
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Final Battle |
| God Emcee | | |
| Abbas | | |
| Abbas | Abbas | |
| | Phoenix | |
| Phoenix | Phoenix | |
| Neville | | |
| Neville | | Abbas |
| | | Rage |
| Adili | | | Rage |
| X-Wray | | |
| X-Wray | X-Wray | |
| | Rage | |
| Rage | Rage | |
| Randal | | |

### Nigeria

Date: Saturday, 19 January 2008 Location: Nimbus Art Centre, Lagos, Nigeria Co-Host: Tito (RayPower 100.5 FM) Judges: Blaise, Ikechukwu, Modenine
Final 8: Del, Delta P, E-Law, Jizzy, Maximum, Teeto, Torpedo, Vector
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Final Battle |
| Teeto | | |
| Vector | | |
| Vector | Teeto | |
| | Torpedo | |
| Torpedo | Torpedo | |
| E-Law | | |
| E-Law | | Teeto |
| | | Maximum |
| Delta P | | | Maximum |
| Jizzy | | |
| Jizzy | Delta P | |
| | Maximum | |
| Maximum | Maximum | |
| Del | | |

### Kenya

Date: Saturday, 26 January 2008 Location: WAPI, Nairobi, Kenya Co-Host: Eve D'Souza (Capital FM) Judges: Doobiz, Mwafrika, Nazizi
Final 8: Big Mic, Faya, Kimya, Lethal Dynamic, Mohammed, Point Blank, SNM, Tua
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Final Battle |
| Kimya | | |
| Point Blank | | |
| Point Blank | Point Blank | |
| | Big Mic | |
| Big Mic | Big Mic | |
| Tua | | |
| Tua | | Big Mic |
| | | Lethal Dynamic |
| Lethal Dynamic | | | Lethal Dynamic |
| Mohammed | | |
| Mohammed | Lethal Dynamic | |
| | SNM | |
| SNM | SNM | |
| Faya | | |

### Angola

Date: Saturday, 1 February 2008 Location: Elinga Teatro, Luanda Co-Host:
Judges: DJ Samurai, Kool Kleva, MC K
Final 8: Agape, Jorge, MG, Nigga Chi, One See, Ray D, Sunny Boy, Yung D
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Final Battle |
| Sunny Boy | | |
| One See | | |
| One See | Sunny Boy | |
| | Yung D | |
| Yung D | Yung D | |
| Nigga Chi | | |
| Nigga Chi | | Yung D |
| | | MG |
| MG | | | MG |
| Agape | | |
| Agape | MG | |
| | Jorge | |
| Jorge | Jorge | |
| Ray D | | |

### South Africa

Date: Saturday, 9 February 2008 Location: Roka Bar, Johannesburg, South Africa Co-Host: AK (YFM) Judges: Mizi, Proverb, Ready D
Final 8: Adamiz, Ben Sharpa, Heavy G, Projectah, Quaz, Slege, Snazz D, Steezy Stylish
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Final Battle |
| Ben Sharpa | | |
| Slege | | |
| Slege | Ben Sharpa | |
| | Adamiz | |
| Steezy Styllish | Adamiz | |
| Adamiz | | |
| Adamiz | | Adamiz |
| | | Snazz D |
| Snazz D | | | Snazz D |
| Quaz | | |
| Quaz | Snazz D | |
| | Heavy G | |
| Projectah | Heavy G | |
| Heavy G | | |

### Final Battle

Date: Friday, 28 March 2008 Location: The Pyramid, Johannesburg Co-Host: Proverb (Metro FM) Judges: Dj Black (Ghanaian DJ), Mizi (South Africa), Modenine (Nigeria), Nazizi (Kenya), Professor Jay (Tanzania), Wordsworth (United States)
Finalists: Big Mic (Kenya), J Town (Ghana), Rage (Tanzania), Snazz D (South Africa), Teeto (Nigeria), Yung D (Angola) Wildcard winner: Adamiz (South Africa)
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Final Battle |
| Snazz D | | |
| Big Mic | | |
| Big Mic | Snazz D | |
| | Teeto | |
| Teeto | Teeto | |
| Rage | | |
| Rage | | Snazz D |
| | | J Town |
| J Town | | | J Town |
| Yung D | | |
| Yung D | J Town | |
| | Adamiz | |
| Wildcard seed below | Adamiz | |
| Adamiz | | |
* Snazz D wins the first season of Emcee Africa, earning him $10,000 (USD), and a single and video deal featuring Wordsworth.

## Emcee Africa 2
### Botswana

Date: Saturday, 18 April 2009 Location: Fashion Lounge, Gaborone, Botswana Co-Host:
Judges: Apollo Diablo, Zeus,
Final 10: Aztech 1, Blain, Cibil Nyte, Dizzo, EQ, Kid, King Ming, Nitro, Oracle, Simba
Round 1
Blain vs. Aztech 1 Cibil Nyte vs. Nitro Kid vs. Dizzo EQ vs. King Ming (both disqualified) Simba vs. Oracle (both advanced due to disqualification)
Round 2 (Individual Performance)
Aztech 1 Cibil Nyte Dizzo Simba Oracle
Final: Oracle vs. Cibil Nyte
Winner: Cibil Nyte

### South Africa

Date: Saturday, 25 May 2009 Location: Roka Bar, Johannesburg, South Africa Co-Host: Reason Judges: HHP, Nthabi, Zubz
Final 10: Adamiz, G.C., Maraza, Mr. Calibre, Otis, Phoenix, Rhyming Type, S!ck, Soniq, Ulysses
Round 1
Otis vs. Adamiz Rhyming Type vs. Phoenix G.C. vs. S!ck Ulysses vs. Mr. Calibre Maraza vs. Soniq
Round 2 (Individual Performance)
Adamiz Phoenix S!ck Mr. Calibre Maraza
Final: Maraza vs. Adamiz
Winner: Maraza

### Ghana

Date: Thursday, 7 May 2009 Location: Tantra, Accra, Ghana Co-Host: Eddie Blay Judges: Kwaku T, Scientifik
Final 10: Augustt, Boy Gemini, C-Real, Chymney, Krime, Melodrama, Padlock, Props, Robin Hood, Rocky
Round 1
Padlock vs. Chymney (both advanced due to disqualification) Props vs. Augustt Melodrama vs. Robin Hood (both disqualified) C-Real vs. Boy Gemini Rocky vs. Krime
Round 2 (Individual Performance)
Chymney Padlock Props C-Real Rocky
Final: Props vs. C-Real
Winner: C-Real

### Nigeria

Date: Sunday, 10 May 2009 Location: Insomnia Nightclub, Lagos, Nigeria Co-Host:
Judges: B.O.U.Q.U.I., Modenine, Naeto C
Final 10: Black Jesus, Collyde, Cwitch, Dirty-A, Emperor Trench, E.Y.M.E., Jizzy, Sergio, Taikoff, Torpedo Mascaw
Round 1
Dirty-A vs. Torpedo Mascaw (both advanced due to disqualification) Collyde vs. Taikoff (both disqualified) Cwitch vs. Sergio (both disqualified) E.Y.M.E. vs. Jizzy Black Jesus vs. Emperor Trench (both advanced due to disqualification)
Round 2 (Individual Performance)
E.Y.M.E. Dirty-A Emperor Trench Torpedo Mascaw Black Jesus
Final: Black Jesus vs. Dirty-A
Winner: Black Jesus

### Kenya

Date: Sunday, 28 June 2009 Location: Club Clique, Nairobi, Kenya Co-Host: G-Money Judges: Doobiz, Mwafrika, Nazizi
Final 10: Bizzill, Kaligraf, Kimya, Kips, Lethal Dynamic, Lon' Jon, OD, Olu, Point Blank Evumbi, X-tatic
Round 1
Point Blank vs. X-tatic Kimya vs. OD Lethal Dynamic vs. Bizzill Lon' Jon vs. Olu Kaligraf vs. Kips
Round 2 (Individual Performance)
Kaligraf Kimya Lethal Dynamic Lon' Jon Point Blank
Final: Point Blank vs. Kaligraf

### Final Battle

Date: 28 June 2009 Location: Club Clique, Johannesburg, South Africa Co-Host: Proverb (Metro FM) Judges: HHP (South Africa), Naeto C (Nigeria), Nazizi (Kenya), Proverb (South Africa), Zeus (Botswana)
Finalists: Black Jeez (Nigeria), Cibil Nyte (Botswana), C-Real (Ghana), Maraza (South Africa), Point Blank (Kenya)
Round 1 (Individual Performance)
Black Jeez Cibil Nyte C-Real Maraza Point Blank
Final: Zeus vs. C-Real Final 2: Cibil Nyte vs. Zeus
Winner: Cibil Nyte
* Cibil Nyte wins the second season of Emcee Africa, earning him $10,000 (USD), and a single and video deal.

## Winners

* Emcee Africa winner (season one): Snazz D
* Emcee Africa 2 winner (season two): Cibil Nyte

## Other media
### Singles

2008: "Battle Chronicles (Emcee Africa)" - (by DJ Black, Rage, Yung D, J Town, Mode9, Snazz, Professor J & Nazizi) (3:49) Produced by Don Juan (Octave Couplet) as featured on Hype Sessions Vol. 21: Jazzworx FM The Album. CD published by HYPE Magazine in their 25th Issue, June/July 2008.
2009: "All Around The A" - (by Proverb, Naeto C, HHP, Nazizi, Zeus, Tamarsha & Cibil Nyte) (5:15) Produced by Don Juan (Octave Couplet).