Diamonds, a six-member group, wins the star prize of Star Quest, a musical talent contest organised by Nigerian Breweries plc
By Ernest Omoarelojie
On 10 May, the Expo Hall of Ocean View, a highbrow restaurant in Lagos, fizzed with anticipation, as the audience awaited the outcome of the grand finale of Star Quest, a musical talent contest organised by Nigerian Breweries plc.
The anticipation was taken care of by the announcement of Diamonds, a six-member group, as winners.
The group’s success earned it a N5 million recording deal, a mini van, N300,000 for each member, a year’s accommodation for members of the group and an automatic ticket to perform in Star Trek, the organisers’ nationwide musical tour.
The programme began with 36 young musical talents whose dream is to make a career in music as well as become rich and famous. For 20 days, they were locked up in a spacious apartment (Fame Land) in Lagos, compelled to make new friends and bond as musical groups. The bonding sessions yielded six musical groups, which vied for honours. They included B Sixz, Da Heritage, Diamonds, Expozee, Spectrum and Next.
According to competition rules, only three groups can be in the final. The rules meant that B Sixz, Spectrum and Next got eliminated by voting, leaving the stage for Da Heritage, Expozee and Diamonds.
For the final, each band had 10 minutes to present two songs. While Diamonds, pre-tournament favourites, rendered two good songs, it was Expozee that got the crowd rocking with Ma J’aiye, a highlife tune sung in Yoruba. But they undid their good work with their second offering, a cross between rap and dancehall reggae, as the crowd watched bemused. “I can’t believe it,” a stunned fan mouthed shortly after Michel Herkemji, Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries, announced the final result.
Emmanuel Aika, the 25 year-old leader of the band, was, however, philosophical. “It is done and there is absolutely nothing anybody can do about it. We just have to accept it,” he told this medium after receiving the plaque for coming third.
Da Heritage, which came second, was unhinged by a lousy stage performance, especially between the male lead singer and his female counterpart, who was considered the weak link in the group.
For Diamonds, the biggest jewel in the crown was petite Jumoke Nwaeze, whose almost child-like voice touched the heart of the audience.
In apparent recognition of her star quality, Anthony Nwanne Iwediunor, alias Biggy, ensured she was in front. And it was with glee that he lifted her up when the final result was announced. It was victory well deserved, given the commitment of every member of the group and especially Nwaeze’s superb vocal and stage qualities. “It’s wonderful and I am so happy. I just want to thank everyone who voted for us this night,” she said. This year’s edition is the fourth since the event began in 2002. KC Presh emerged victorious at its maiden edition. But for logistical reasons, there was a four-year hiatus. When it returned in 2006, the scope had been broadened. It was branded a celebration of the country’s music with friendship, bonding and sociability.
For instance, unlike the one before it, the 2006 edition came up with an arrangement under which all contestants were allowed to blend and bond as natural bands without outside interference. In addition, it moved from being a celebration of individual talent to that of group. The reason, according to the organisers, was to ensure that the most popular band emerged winner not by the decision of judges, but the viewing public which votes via SMS. D’Accord emerged winner of that year’s edition. In 2007, Jewels (later rechristened D’Jewels) won the first prize. “If we say this is the biggest and number one music talent hunt show, this is what we mean. We always create the stars,” Herkemji said before announcing the winner.
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