After a rigorous and highly competitive contest, 10 contestants – out of the hundreds that turned out – have scaled the first Selection Party hurdle at the fourth edition of Nigeria’s number one Fuji music talent hunt show, Goldberg Fuji t’o Bam. The Selection Parties were held at Samkoll Garden, Ikotun, Lagos State and 3AD Bar, Idiroko Road, Ota Ota, Ogun State.
For the Selection Party held at Ikotun, the following are the five lucky contestants that made it to the next stage of the competition: Abiodun Oloto, Alhaji Wasiu, Azeez Wasiu, Oyeniyi Ismaila, and Ajani Azeez. Similarly, Saheed Ishola, Saheed Milo, Muhammed Adewale, Jabele Saheed and Ayinde Lukman have qualified from the Ota Centre.
Speaking on the contest, Ismaila, who came from Osogbo, Osun State purposely to participate in the talent hunt, disclosed that he had been singing since 15 years now. According to him, he already has a dedicated band, but the team has not waxed any record yet. His words: “I started singing Fuji music 15 years ago. I now have a band, but we perform at occasions like naming, birthday, house warming, and burial ceremonies. He also disclosed that he operates a barbing salon which keeps him busy whenever there is no ceremony to attend.
Ismaila commended Goldberg for the initiative behind the annual competition, which he said is assisting budding artists like himself to actualize their goal in life. He said his target in the contest is to be the Wura1 of Fuji so that his vision of producing the first album could be actualized.
Similarly, Azeez expressed delight at the Fuji t’o Bam talent show; whose initiative he said is unique. He therefore commended Nigerian Breweries Plc for identifying with Fuji music in Nigeria. According to him, the platform is giving upcoming Fuji artistes the opportunity to realize their goal in life.
Speaking on behalf of the top five in Ota, Adewale, said: ‘Fuji music is my life. It has been my favorite music since childhood and the only music I am really accustomed to as an individual. I hope to win this competition not just because of my passion and exposure to Fuji but because I see Fuji music as a way of life and would love to take it professionally. This is why I have fully associated myself with Goldberg as a brand for bringing my life to me.’
Auditions continued in Oyo and Ilesha the same day; followed by Akure and Ado-Ekiti, as well as Ibadan and Sagamu.
The lucky contestants from each audition location would qualify for the quarter final of the contest which would hold in Oyo. The concert proper will begin at the quarter final and the selected contestants from each audition location would join to battle for the ticket to proceed to the semifinal in Ilesha.