It has been an exciting couple of weeks on Nigerian Idol with a mix of hilarious and impressive auditions. After sifting through thousands of hopefuls, the top 10 are about to emerge, as the live shows are set to begin from May 26.
While nine contestants have successfully secured spots in the live show, the final spot for the tenth contestant remains undecided. Viewers 10th have the opportunity to vote and determine who makes it between Japh Kenti and Lammy and to join the live show lineup.
After surviving the auditions and Theatre Week which consisted of the duet battles and a final performance, the top nine contestants were revealed and will battle it out, performing for a live audience on Sunday. It was truly a make-or-break moment!
In this episode, we welcomed some familiar faces to provide their expertise in the competition. Obi Asika appeared on the show in place of Omawumi as a judge for the episode. Additionally, past winners such as Victory Gbakara and Progress made appearances on the show to provide advice from their own experiences.
The first contestant who made it to the top 10 was Chioma, who delivered a stellar performance during her solo audition with Jennifer Hudson’s hit song If This Isn’t Love. After working hard for a great performance, her talent shone through once again, securing her a well-deserved spot among the top 10 contenders.
The second top 10 contestant was Mira Clear, who had dreamt of making it to the Nigerian Idol live shows. She delivered a fantastic performance of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ song, ‘No Woman No Cry’, and secured a spot. David Garland did not only impress the judges by successfully pulling off a pink suit, his excellent solo performance of Marvin Gaye’s’ What’s Going On’, earned him a stop on the top 10.
As the selection process continued, only seven spots remained, and many talented hopefuls had their dreams of making the top 10 cut short as their journey abruptly ended. The moments were heartbreaking. Contestants like Mikki, a platinum ticket winner and others like Tari, Sapphire Whinnas, Teddy, Alfred Greatness, and many others reluctantly bid the show farewell.
The positive streak continued with Lady Ruth, Stevie who left a teaching career in pursuit of success in the music industry, Maio who gave a performance that earned him a standing ovation from Ric Hassani, Gracia, and Jennifer Igomu who got beyond a birthday cake from the judges but also a well-deserved pass to the top 10. Each one of them blew the judges away with their vocals and performances to earn them a spot on the live show.
Making it to the top 10 was also Chima, a platinum ticket winner determined to surpass the disappointments of the previous season. The judges were impressed by his performance of Giveon’s ‘Stuck on You’, and Chima secured a coveted spot in the top 10, a step closer to his dreams. He had redeemed himself after failing to make the top 10 last season.
The Nigerian Idol season nine journey ended for Japheth who was also a platinum ticket winner Dakor, Victor Annie, JayB, and Sammie Voice due to their not-so-great performances.
The battle for the final spot came down to Japh Kenti and Lammy. Japh performed Mario’s’ Let Me Love You’ while Lammy performed Teni’s ‘Case’ like never heard before. Both contestants tried to prove they had what it takes to make the last contestant on the top 10 list. With only one slot remaining, the decision is now left in the hands of viewers of the show.
Viewers will be voting to decide who makes the tenth spot, and the winner will be announced during the next episode, which will be the live show.
The contestants who have earned their place in the live show through talent, perseverance, and sheer determination are Chioma, Mira Clear, David Garland, Lady Ruth, Stevie, Maio, Gracia, Jennifer Igomu, Chima, Japh Kenti, and Lammy.
ALSO READ: Drama as Binance executive, Gambaryan, collapses in court over alleged ill-health
