With the rave of the moment, BBNija taking the centre stage, and The Ultimate Search waiting by the wings, it seems the era of reality shows is coming back in a powerful way. There are probably many new ones that will emerge, and some that are moribund, that will bounce back to life. But how many, that have graced our screen in the last one or two decades, can you quickly recall? The list could be quite long?
The Voice Nigeria
The Voice Nigeria is one of Nigeria’s most popular music reality shows. The show, which is an offshoot of the global music reality TV show, was created by Jon de Mol and takes its playbook from The Voice of Holland. It debuted in Nigeria in 2016. It screens dozens of contestants before whittling them down to the last 6 or 8 for the final weekend where viewers will decide the eventual winner. This show has produced several artists in the country’s music space. It was hosted by IK Osakioduwa in the first and second seasons. Ik also hosted it this year. Toke Makinwa was a co-host in its season three with Nancy Isime as the main host. Top-tier Nigerian artistes have been judges on the show, including recurring stars Waje and Yemi Alade. 2Baba appeared in season one; Patoranking and Timi Dakolo in the first two seasons, with Darey and Falz joining the recurring judges for the third season. Although it kicked off in 2016, the show took a break after the second season in 2017 and returned for a third season in 2021.
Nigerian Idol
This is another local franchise of a popular international music reality TV show. When the first edition of the show was hosted in October 2010, it was opened to all Nigerians between the ages of 18 – 28. It garnered fame and acceptance as it was aired across Africa with over 15 channels. The first winner of the Nigerian Idol show was awarded the sum of N7.5 million, a recording contract with Sony, a car, and an all-expense-paid trip to South Africa. Nigeria Idol takes after the Idol franchise created by Simon Fuller. Tiwa Savage served as the main host at the initial period. Season six had Obi Asika, Seyi Shay, and DJ Sose as judges. Praiz and Cobhams Asuquo also featured sometimes as guest judges.
MTN Project Fame/ Y’ello Star
MTN Y’ello Star reality TV show was created by telecoms giant, MTN in its attempt to revive the popular West African reality TV Show, MTN Project Fame. The discontinuation of Project Fame left some fans heartbroken but the Y’ello Star tried to rekindle that fire. The first season saw 16 contestants enjoying a Virtual Music Training Program from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, as well as a Creative Entrepreneurship Training Program certification by Henley Business School. Though the talents were raw and original even before they were discovered in the show, the training was aimed at refining and polishing these talents in the art and business of music.
Ultimate Love
This reality TV show is one of the few in Nigeria created to help couples define what love means to them. The model is quite simple: 16 individuals (half of each gender) are paired up and are hosted in a secluded venue for 50 days under 24 hours surveillance. The quest is to find the ultimate couple’s love and for them to maintain the love during the show – and hopefully after the show. The format has some similarities with the popular franchise, Big Brother Africa. It is a product from the stable of Multi-Choice Nigeria and was hosted by Dakore Egbuson-Akande and Oluwaseun Olaniyan. In the first season in February last year, Rossie and Kachi emerged the ultimate couples of the show. It is still not clear if the show will still hold this year considering the current pandemic since many tasks involved activities outside the house.
Big Brother Naija
This is the biggest “masquerade” among all reality shows in Nigeria. Indeed the list would be incomplete without it. Nigerians both young and old, educated and uneducated are passionate about the show. The show which is ongoing presently features over 23 contestants locked away in a mansion for 3 months. The last person standing walks away with the grand prize. The show is so popular that in its Season three, Nigerians cast a whopping 200 million votes to keep their favourite housemates in the house. It is on record that subsequent shows broke this record.
Maltina Dance Hall
The Maltina Dance All also known as “MDA” existed as a medium for talented dancing families to showcase their moves in steps from Hip Pop, Jive, Gumboot, Pantomine, Wazobia and Salsa in the chance to become Nigeria’s No.1 Dance Family. In its many years of existence, The Maltina dance all team had its tentacles across the six geographical zones of the nation, searching for the best talent in dance, along with a supportive and equally good dance family. The show is all about celebrating happiness and unity in Nigerian Families, as well as bringing unlimited fun to our television screens.
Nigeria’s Got Talent
Nigeria’s Got Talent is a Nigerian reality talent show which is part of the Got Talent franchise. It was launched in 2012. The uniqueness of this show is that the auditioning that takes place in front of the judges and a live audience in different cities takes over 70 percent of its duration. As the contestant performs, each judge may show their disapproval by pressing a buzzer which lights a red ‘X’ near above the stage. If all three buzzers are pressed, the act ends immediately. To advance to the next round participants must receive at least two ‘yes’s’ or the competition ends for them
The X-Factor.
This one of the world’s biggest singing reality shows that telecoms giant, Glo later molded into the biggest music reality show in Nigeria with a 24 million Naira prize and an international Sony Music contract. Regrettably, the lifespan of the show was pretty short so its impact in the market was quite minimal.
The Ultimate Search
Gulder Ultimate Search (also called GUS) is a Nigerian reality television series, created and sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc to promote its flagship Gulder brand. The first season premiered in 2004. The GUS series is also the very first 100% local content reality television programme in Nigeria and it is a survival- centred reality programme that highlights the struggle of Contestants against themselves and the forces of nature as they search for a hidden treasure that brings instant fame and fortune to the last person standing. The Winner of the last season in 2012 took home a 10 million naira cash prize and an SUV. The Ultimate prize for the last man standing in the Gulder Ultimate Search is always an attractive and alluring prize which includes a huge amount of cash and a brand-New car. Popular producers of the series include Olakunle Oyeneye and Executive Producer Oluseyi Siwoku of Jungle Filmworks, with the legendary baritone voice of Femi Sowoolu hovering like that of the GUS Big Brother. Presently, plans are in top gear for the Ultimate Search to return to the screen in Nigeria
Dragon’s Den
Dragons’ Den is a reality television programme format in which “entrepreneurs” pitch their business ideas to a panel of venture capitalists in the hope of securing investment finance from them. The program originated in 2001 in Japan where it is known as The Tigers of Money and is distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television. Local versions of the show have been produced in nearly 30 countries, including Nigeria. At different times, Biodun Shobanjo, Ibukun Awosika, Chriss Parkes have served in the venture capitalist team when the show lasted.
Smoov InHarmony Challenge
Created and sponsored by Nigeria’s first Chapman brand, Smoov, the InHarmony Challenge was created for the discovery, coaching and promotion of talents. The Harmony Challenge is a nationwide online singing competition, the only musical talent hunt show where the focus is on singing groups of at least 4 members. These groups perform their unique arrangement of select Afro Pop Hits. The Challenge which debuted in 2021 ran for 12 weeks and had 4 stages. The winning group took home a cash prize of N2, 500,000. The winners also have the chance to record a single, complete with a music video with an award-winning artiste. Participants were judged by a panel of judges comprising Wande Coal, Artiste; Piriye Isokrari, CEO, the Aristokrat Group; Shimmy Jiyane, Member of the Soweto Gospel Choir; and Emeka Nwokedi, Director Lagos City Chorale Choir.
Judging Matters
Lagos births crises every day, but the courts can’t settle all of them. Judging Matters, in partnership with the Lagos state government, helps Lagosians get justice from minor claims. Justice Olusola William, a retired Lagos judge, oversees these cases. She listens and probes while host (and real-life lawyer) Ebuka Obi-Uchendu helps the claimant and defendant air their points. The show educates viewers about the law in a simple and witty way. It also helps Lagosians resolve issues without the complications of a court process: lawyers’ fees, court delays and filing costs.
Date My Family Nigeria
This is a reality dating show where your family and friends determine if you will get a date or not. The show follows a suitor who visits the home of three potential dates, dines with their family and picks one of them based on the experience with each family. The suitor and the chosen date would then go on a dinner date to decide if they are right for each other.
Knorr Taste Quest
Knorr Taste Quest is one of Nigeria’s most popular catering reality shows. Sponsored by Unilever Nigeria, it premiered in 2013. The show is focused on highlighting Knorr’s culinary experience as well as the brand’s passion for taste. Participants display their cooking skills while also bringing an entertaining and informative cooking show to Nigerians. The show revolves around tasks given to contestants by judges to test their cooking skills and creativity.
What about Brekete Family?