Nigeria, which is vastly known for its top-performing entertainment industry, has been able to produce some quality reality shows that have entertained us over the years and brought about the rise of talented industry giants. Out of nowhere, some of these shows stopped airing to the disappointment of the viewers.
However, one of these fan favorites – Gulder Ultimate Search is returning, which makes us long for some of the other shows we were obsessed with. Following this latest development, here are four of our favorite TV shows that we will love to see back on our screens:
Maltina Dance All (2007 – 2016)
Maltina Dance All was the top family reality TV show in Nigeria. The show made viewers smile with happiness as it brought different families from different works of life to show off their dancing skills thereby creating an atmosphere for unity and togetherness. The show involved an individual auditioning. If selected, they had to bring their families into the show which started with a tour of the households after then, they had to compete for the grand prize. Different dance routines were employed in the show to create a proper blend of culture. The routines included Salsa, Hip-hop, Jive, GumBoot, Pantomime, Wazobia. The hosts were Kemi Adetiba, Osas Ighodaro with Muyiwa Osinaike, Jeffery Page, Jarnell Burgess, Bimbo Obafunwai as judges. The Onye family won the first edition while the Opuwari’s won the second edition. Unfortunately, it ended with the Adah family in season 9.
MTN Project Fame (2008 – 2016)
MTN Project Fame served as an incubator for talented young musicians intending to make it into the music industry. The show featured contestants from various parts of West Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. The debut edition of the show started on the 18th of July 2008 with Iyanya emerging as the winner. After weeks of auditions, the best performing contestants were selected and introduced on the Gala night. It was hosted by Joseph Benjamin and, Adaora Oleh who was later replaced with Bolanle Olukanni. It also had Joke Silva, Dupe Ige, Ben Ogbeiwi as faculty members who trained the contestants on their vocals, diction, song production, and Praiz, Bibie Brew, Tee-Y Mix serving as judges. The music show offered a pathway into the music industry for musicians such as Praiz, Iyanya, Chidinma, and Ayoola Ayolola. However, in 2016 after airing for 9 years, MTN withdrew its sponsorship and the talent show stopped.
Koko Mansion (2009 – 2011)
In 2009, the Koko master himself, Dbanj set up a reality show called Koko Mansion in collaboration with HiTV. He got the title Koko mansion from his popular slang ‘kokolette’ which according to him is a well-endowed and high achieving woman. The show was an eight-week reality show that had girls coming from all over Nigeria. The show aired for two seasons with the first edition comprising of 12 girls who resided in an art mansion in Lagos. The young women were groomed and tested in various diverse tasks and activities. The woman that had the best Koko virtues became the winner and went home with Chris Aire’s Diamond Ring, a new convertible car, and N5 million. Bolanle Okhira, who won the first edition of the Koko Mansion reality show, said: “I learned a lot from the Kokolet mansion. Etiquettes on how to be composed as a lady outside the mansion and the creative tasks that brought out my creative side. It also helped boost my presenting career”. In 2018, Dbanj hinted at a comeback of the reality show. Since then, we’ve not heard much about the show.
Nigeria’s Got Talent (2012-2014)
Nigeria’s Got Talent was a replica of the British franchise of the same name. Hosted in 2012, the show was sponsored by Airtel Nigeria. Unlike other TV shows in Nigeria that are centered on a particular genre of entertainment, Nigeria’s Got Talent was a versatile reality TV show aimed at discovering talents in the diverse parts of the entertainment industry. The contestants were selected in a live audition by the judges. As they perform, judges make comments and either approve or disapprove. If approved, the candidate moves to the next stage. The overall winner is selected through the viewer’s votes. Eight-year-old Amarachi emerged as the winner in the first season. Robots for Christ won in the second season before the show stopped airing.
