It was mixed feelings at the Dream studio last Sunday when the Nigerian voting public chose Onyeka Gilbert (popularly called Yeka Onka) winner of the first Nigerian Idol on Sunday March 27, 2011.
“I am really excited for this, it took me a while to get to this point, I was rejected in Enugu and Abuja, before I came down to Lagos and then I got the golden ticket. I loved the experience, all through the six months, And now here I am walking away with the grand prize” Yeka Onka said, screaming and jumping, before leaving the stage
To a number of people, fan-favorite Naomi Mac would have been a better option, but to a number of the other finalists, Onka as they have all come to call her is the best option “I think viewers did the right thing by voting Onyeka as the first Idol because she is a total package, she sings really well and she has good interpersonal relationship. I thank God for her” AJ one of the finalists says. “I campaigned for Yeka; I really wanted her to win, and I am excited” Bibi said amidst tears.
The tears didn’t stop with Bibi. AJ, Emmanuel, Chito, Nina, Zoe and Naomi’s parents all cried as jubilation consumed the entire studio. 26 year-old Onyeka Gilbert a.k.a Yeka Onka looks like a model straight from a fashion magazine. Her looks don’t lie because Yeka is indeed a former beauty Queen. She was crowned The Most beautiful Girl in Abia state at a beauty pageant in 2006. Winning the beauty pageant opened up a lot of doors for her but according to the tall, dark beauty being the Queen of Abia didn’t really pan out well as she expected.
The word ‘no’ simply does not exist in Yeka’s dictionary. Rather than accept ‘no’ from the Idol judges at the audition stage, she embarked on an ‘Idol mini tour’ that took her from Enugu to Calabar and finally Lagos where she eventually got her ‘Yes’! She says she probably couldn’t have done it alone but for the chance meeting with an Idol crew member after her first rejection in Enugu. The crew member had encouraged her then by saying “it’s not how hard you fall but it’s what you do after you fall”. With that mentality she gave the competition all that she’s got.
“Here’s a toast to Onyeka who beat all the odds by becoming the first Nigerian Idol, She thoroughly deserves her victory and we should all applaud her and support her” was all a fulfilled Rotimi Pedro (MD OF Optima Media group) could say at the star studded gala event .
The event which first started with a red carpet reception; with cocktails and canapes, attracted first-class celebs from the music, movie and fashion industries, as well as guests drawn from a pool of Idols fans and voters. “Just got off stage, wow I must say I loved the audience at Nigerian Idol, I definitely sang my little heart out” Fast-rising female singer Tiwa Savage who performed at the grand finale pre show posted on twitter few minutes after performing. The audience was also thrilled with performances from West African Idol winner Timi Dakolo, R&B star Banky W, Retta and Praiz Perhaps the highlight of the grand finale was when the two finalists sang “Seun Rere” with the lady of song Christy Essein Igbokwe
And finally, the TV reality show which has been the talk of the town since kicking off in November 2010 has come to an end with Yeka Onka becoming the first-ever Nigerian Idol She returned home with a recording contract, 7.5Million naira courtesy Etisalat and Royal Exchange, a brand new car courtesy Tom Tom and a Sony entertainment TV center. But just like Audu Maikori commented during the final show,
Yeka is not the only winner; first runner-up Naomi won N1.5M cash prize, a Blackberry phone, Ipad, Ipod, Easy Card, standing Fridge, PS3 and other goodies.
Emmanuel, the second runner up also left with N1M, Blackberry phone, Ipad, Ipod, Easy Card, standing Fridge, PS3. Other 11 finalists also went back to their base with lavish gifts from the show’s sponsors. ‘But I must insist, Pedro comments, ‘that the real prize these young people are walking away with, is the opportunities that this platform presents; the opportunity to cultivate whatever fan base they’ve been able to build while here, and use all the resources available to them to build a lasting career for themselves in the entertainment industry’
ABOUT YEKA ONKA
Onyeka Gilbert a.k.a Yeka Onka looks like a model straight from a fashion magazine. Her looks don’t lie because Yeka is indeed a former beauty Queen. She was crowned Queen of Abia at a beauty pageant in 2006. Winning the beauty pageant opened up a lot of doors for her but according to the tall, dark beauty being the Queen of Abia didn’t really pan out well as she expected.
The beauty pageant was an aside for her really. Her real passion in life had always been music. From a tender age, she had been singing with her family band. “My father was the leader of the band and he played the saxophone, guitar and the piano very well. My mum was the lead vocalist while me, my sisters and my brothers were backups.”
The family band however ‘part-disbanded’ in 2001 at the death of her mother and then fully so at the death of her father 5 years later in 2006. After her parents died, Gospel reggae artiste, Buchi took her under his wings and became her mentor. Yeka’s confidence was not dented by her orphan state. The word ‘no’ simply does not exist in her dictionary. Rather than accept ‘no’ from the Idol judges at the audition stage, the 26 year old beauty embarked on an ‘Idol mini tour’ that took her from Enugu to Calabar and finally Lagos where she eventually got her ‘Yes’! She says she probably couldn’t have done it alone but for the chance meeting with an Idol crew member after her first rejection in Enugu.
The crew member had encouraged her then by saying “it’s not how hard you fall but it’s what you do after you fall”. With that mentality she is giving Nigerian Idol all that she’s got.
