Naija Star Search announces winner

The brainchild of Africa-facing media company StarTimes and record label Kennis Music, the competition premiered in September as an Afrobeats reality show for undiscovered Nigerian artists aged between 18 and 35 years. It was hosted by rapper and broadcaster VJ Adams, and ran for 13 weeks.

Afrobeats ranks among the most consumed music genres globally, particularly in the past couple of years. Prominent in the West African countries of Nigeria and Ghana, the sound fuses traditional sounds with Western pop and Caribbean influences. It counts the likes of Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy, as well as Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade among its leading names.

A 27-year-old native of Oyo State, Skimzo beat fellow finalists Melo and Eniola to win the grand prize of ₦5m (about $11 000), as well as an artist development programme with Kennis Music.

Eniola finished second, taking home ₦3m, while Melo, who came third, received ₦2m.

During the competition, contestants rendered covers of popular Afrobeats songs while benefitting from mentorship from industry vets including Kennis Music founder Kenny Ogungbe, producer ID Cabasa and reggae dancehall artist Asha Gangali, all who doubled as judges of the contest. Contestants also gained lessons on the music business.

“We want to make this platform where the next generation of Afrobeats stars are discovered and nurtured,” ID Cabasa said of its vision.

Ogungbe added: “Afrobeats will never die. The people sustaining it now are in their mid-20s and 30s. To sustain it, we need to groom new talents in their teens so that in the next 10 years, we will still have those holding it down.”