Meet the 10 ‘Naija Sings’ finalists
BOMA TOLOFARI Age: 22 Describes herself as: playful, honest, hardworking, warm, courageous Favourite singers: Yolanda Adams, India Arie, Lauryn Hill, ASA, Ty Bello Motto: The only thing that’s impossible is something that hasn’t been tried. An undergraduate, Boma is from Lagos State. Her role model is her Pastor, because he always inspires her to be […]
BOMA TOLOFARI
Age: 22
Describes herself as: playful, honest, hardworking, warm, courageous
Favourite singers: Yolanda Adams, India Arie, Lauryn Hill, ASA, Ty Bello
Motto: The only thing that’s impossible is something that hasn’t been tried.
An undergraduate, Boma is from Lagos State. Her role model is her Pastor, because he always inspires her to be better than she is. She started singing when she was a child and is proud to have made it this far in the competition because it reminds her of what God has blessed her with and gives her the opportunity to inspire.
CASEY EDEMA
Age: 27
Describes himself as: cool, observant, believer, melancholic and passionate
Favourite singers: Michael Jackson, Brian McKnight, Music Soul Child, ASA, 2Face, Lagbaja, Anthony Hamilton, Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly, Marvin Gaye, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill.
Motto: In the end, “a life of love is all that matters”.
Casey is a student with a Diploma in Music from Nnamdi Azikiwe University. He is proud to be part of Naija Sings because of the platform and opportunity it has given him. Inspired to start singing at a young age by the music of Michael Jackson, Casey started his training in 1999 with his church choir and hasn’t looked back.
He auditioned for Naija Sings because he believes he can win and he has what the competition is looking for.
When he’s singing, Casey feels alive, fulfilled, happy and valued: “It feels like I’m taking you into my world, showing and giving you something you need. I feel like a creator. It’s emotional, energetic – it’s just fun, love it!”
EKENG BASSEY
Age: 27
Describes himself as: humble, humourous, witty, interesting, passionate.
Favourite singers: Donnie McClurkin, Josh Groban, Darwin Hobbs, Dare Art Alade, Chris Brown, Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo
Motto: Sing. Laugh. Love God.
A 27-year-old B.Sc. Mass Communication graduate, Ekeng is from Kaduna State and lists receiving a Mass Communication Icon Award upon his graduation as one of the achievements he is most proud of.
He’s not sure when he started singing, but remembers his first stage performance happening at the tender age of 9. When he was chosen to participate in Naija Sings during the regional auditions, he felt “loved and accepted” and felt he had achieved “a step to greatness”. If he wins the competition, he will give 10% of his prize to the church or a charity; put a percentage towards a music career, with some put aside for the unexpected.
FRED AKOH (DA BRODAS)
Age: 20
Describes himself as: average-height, family of 5, from Kogi State. He says: I like singing.
Favourite singers: Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, J. Moss, Micah Stampley
Motto: You can do anything if you try and believe in yourself
Abuja-born Fred is an undergraduate student at K.S.U. A big fan of inspirational books, Idols, talent search TV shows, action movies and cartoons, he says his favourite place in Nigeria is “my home”! An amateur drum player, Frederick plays video games and listens to music when he wants to relax.
Listing his parents as his role models – “they’re very passionate and wonderful people” – the achievement he’s most proud of in his life to date is making it onto Naija Sings. He says he is excited that his brother and he made it to the TOP 10 stage of Naija Sings among the great talents that participated.
JEFF AKOH (DA BRODAS)
Age: 14
Describes himself as: jovial, talented, naughty, playful, nice.
Favourite singers: Donnie McClurkin, Chris Brown, J. Moss
Motto: Always be cool
Jeff is the youngest finalist on Naija Sings and will share the stage with older brother Fred. He loves reading comics and watching ESPN Soccernet Press Pass and the Ellen Degeneres Show. He thinks the best thing about his country is the talented people.
He entered Naija Sings at the prompting of his brother and thinks that audiences should watch because the show is “interesting and talent-filled”. Jeff asks audience to vote for him and his brother because they’re talented and can sing. He says that winning the competition will change his family’s life.
Jeff says that his mother is his role model, with the best advice he ever received coming from his parents – simply “be good”!
MOSES OBI-ADIGWE
Age: 19
Describes himself as: uniquely multi-talented fun-loving person
Favourite singers: Jennifer Hudson, ASA, Beyonce, John Legend, Alicia Keys
Motto: Never stop enjoying what you’re doing and always push against your limits
Moses is a student from Delta State. The achievement in life he’s most proud of so far is making it into the Naija Sings Top 10, “because it’s always been my dream to be in a music competition”. He’s been singing since he was 5 years old – though his parents tell him he could sing before he could talk.
Moses auditioned for Naija Sings to take a chance to make his dreams come true and thinks that audiences should vote for him because he has a wonderful personality and a unique voice. When he’s not performing, he likes to swim, read books and hang out with friends. One of his favourite books is “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and he loves watching “Oprah”, “Hustle”, “How I Met Your Mother” and “Glee”.
NAJITE EL-DAVID
Age: 23
Describes herself as: Simple, funny, drama-queen, intriguing, smart
Favourite singers: India Arie, Whitney Houston, Nicole Mulllen, Kim Burrell, Jennifer Hudson, ABBA, Brandy, J. Moss
Motto: Make the best of every situation you find yourself in
The 23-year-old Najite is a student at Madonna University. She has stayed in Port Harcourt all her life and really likes it there. She says the best thing about Nigeria is the ethnic groups, the languages and the rich culture. She lists her Mom as her role model because she’s hard-working, humble and loving.
She’s been singing from a young age and entered Naija Sings because she feels that she has something which the world has got to see and hear – and she believes she can go all the way. She feels that she was born to sing – when she’s singing, she feels “love and peace”.
NINIOLA APATA
Age: 25
Describes herself as: free-spirited, strong-willed, passionate
Favourite singers: Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, ABBA, Mary McKee, Beyonce, Celine Dion, D’Banj, Omawunmi, P-Square .
Motto: It’s not by might, nor by power, but by the spirit
The 25-year-old Biology student Niniola was born in Lagos, studies at the University of Lagos and says that Lagos is her favourite place in Nigeria. She says the best thing about the country is the rich cultural blend from North to South and East to West. Niniola says her father gave her the best advice she ever received: “Believe in yourself and with God, the sky is the limit”.
She auditioned for Naija Sings to show the world the passion she has for music, and to entertain people. When she sings, she feels blessed and should she win the competition, she will pay a tithe to the church, take care of her personal ambitions and start up a foundation which provides vocational studies for the less-privileged.
PEACE NWOKOLO
Age: 24
Describes herself as: Simple, calm, warm, strong-spirited, reliable
Favourite singers: Asha, 2Face, Beyonce
Motto: Forward ever, backward never
24 year-old IMT Enugu undergraduate student from Onitsha, Peace says the best thing about her country is that is is a land of hope, filled with determined and courageous people. Listing her role model as Whitney Houston because of her “strong voice full of confidence”, Peace also lists her idol’s song “You Light Up My Life” as one of her favourite songs to perform.
Peace has been singing since the age of 5, and entered Naija Sings because the show is “a place for me to express what has hidden in me for so many years”. When she was chosen at the regional auditions, she felt “awesome and appreciated” and says that people should watch the demonstrate because it encourages Nigerians to show their great potential and “improves our society in a very positive way”.
RASINE BROWN
Age: 17
Describes herself as: Young, smart, beautiful, humble, full of prospects
Favourite singers: I have so many! There are so many wonderful singers in the world.
Motto: Make the best out of any opportunity you have.
Rasine, a student from Calabar, lists her favourite book as Brian Tracy’s “Success Is A Journey” and enjoys watching “Doctors”, “Dr 90210”, “So You Think You Can Dance” – and “Naija Sings”!
She’s always loved singing, but started in earnest about 3 and a half years ago. Rasine auditioned for Najia Sings because “I feel it’s time for me to translate my dreams and visions to goals and achievements”. If she wins, she will use the money to go to school to become a medical practitioner, specializing in Paediatrics, to help children around the world – and also give her tithe to the church.
SHEDRACK DURU
Age: 25
Describes himself as: Funny, multi-talented, smart, sensitive, humble
Favourite singers: Brandy, India Arie, Michael Jackson, R. Kelly.
Motto: Make the best of every situation
Undergraduate student Shedrack hails from Lagos State, and says the best thing about Nigeria is the country’s rich culture and diversity. He is proud of making it into University – and equally as proud to be on Naija Sings.
He’s been singing since he was about 7 years old, and entered Naija Sings to prove to himself that he’s a good singer and to show the world what he has to offer – musically and otherwise. When he’s on stage performing, he feels as though someone else is singing and he is listening.
Now, it is your vote that can give anyone of them the prize.