“I lost faith in MTN Project Fame a while ago. What started out as a well-meaning musical reality TV show has over the years turned itself into a cliché”…..
Humans as individuals are entitled to their “individual” opinions so I cannot but regard Segun Odejimi’s perception on the above as exclusive. Since it is not the mutual opinion of the general public, I would rather give attention to the other issues as identified by Him in the article he dedicated to Ben Ogbeiwi of MTN Project Fame West Africa.
Project Fame still remains the top and choicest musical talent reality show platform in West Africa as it delivers to the public, through the faculty, individuals with raw and nuturable talent and if as you pointed out…. “there is also lack of emergence of superstars success stories since the days of Chidinma, Praiz and Iyanya….” Remember also that all winners are truly products of the Project Fame Academy but mainly the choice of the public who voted them as winners. It is totally up to these winners what they do with the knowledge and popularity gained in the Academy plus the opportunity and support of the people. Our personal goals differ same as our drive. This is why you can choose to be a feature writer and media artist while Chimamanda can go as far as being called “the most prominent” of a “procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors that is succeeding in attracting a new
generation of readers to African literature…. You both have a common thread.
Like you said this article is not about Project Fame but about Uncle Ben of the Project Fame who reminds you of lecturers who bullied students into their respect and submission. Allow me remind you also that every “lecturer” has his own method of getting across to his students depending, again on his personality. The organizers of Project Fame must have
recognized Uncle Ben’s unique traits, as well as Joke Silva Jacob’s ….. etc to honour them with a responsibility as members of the faculty. In Uncle Ben they see confidence and the ability to deliver where you see arrogance. They see assertiveness in him where you see him as overbearing. If you think he is dismissive, I think he just doesn’t like time wasters and unserious people especially when it is work time…. Discipline!
Each of the faculty members unique traits are the exact combination of personalities needed in the Academy to drive contestants to full productivity and as you must know not everyone has the Charming and Maternal disposition of our Favourite Mummy Joke Silva Jacobs. The same Uncle Ben you want to portray as the Hitler of Project Fame Academy is the same one present to nuture the likes of Iyanya, Chidinma, Praiz, Niniola….etc and we can see their fruits. If he wasn’t doing anything right at all then the projcet would have failed from the beginning. An old adage says… “if we correct a child with the right hand (Ben the Bully whom, I must say, is very much needed in the Academy), we draw the child close with the left hand (our amiable mummy in the Academy) so you see? Each faculty member complements the functions of the other.
Uncle Ben is an individual, right in his own lane and with his unique method of teaching. As you think his methods are flawed,
so also do many, who disagree with your articles.
Written by: Olabanji Henry