Nigerian Idol: “I feel like a real star”

Nigerian Idol is back, and with it, the next generation of music stars. And this season, we will see more than the contestants’ Sunday Night performances thanks to Showmax exclusive Nigerian Idol: The Countdown to Showtime. We are familiar with the glitz and glamour of the Sunday live event, but there’s so much non-fancy work that goes on behind the scenes.

The Countdown to Showtime brings us closer to the contestants. We see how they prepare for their Sunday performances, hear their motivations, and meet the people – vocal coaches and costume designers – who help them prepare. In the first episode, they travel to major cities in Nigeria, from Port Harcourt to Abuja, doing media rounds like stars.

“I had mad fun, from the media rounds, the interviews at the radio station to the meet and greet,” church boy Clinton Francis says. “I really enjoyed myself, like I feel like a star, I feel like a real star.”

Beyonce, the girl with the face and voice of a star, who joined Clinton for the Port Harcourt media tour, is living her dreams. “Born and raised in Port Harcourt, I really thought that because of a lot of things, I might not be able to fulfill that dream [of becoming a star],” she says. “But now that I’m here, it all feels like a dream come true – somebody pinch me.”

Nigerian Idol airs every Sunday night on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 29. It is available globally on Showmax. The Countdown to Showtime premieres every Thursday evening.