Related Articles
Tuesday, 25 October 2022
By Timothy Eodu-Kampala
Airtel Africa is inviting its customers in Uganda to audition for the debut season of The Voice Africa, an exciting partnership between the international music talent show and the leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services.
According to Amit Kapur, Chief Commercial Officer Airtel Uganda, the Voice Africa will be streamed to millions of Africans via Airtel TV, Free to Air stations (FTAs) and paid channels across 14 countries in Africa. Uganda’s aspiring music talent will get the incredible opportunity to perform live on the TV programme and hopefully be crowned ‘The Voice Africa’.
The first stage is a Video Audition, in which entrants register at www.thevoice.africa.com and upload a one-minute video of them singing. Successful applicants will be invited to attend a Live Audition, hosted in Uganda.
Following the live audition, the seven strongest vocalists from Uganda will be flown to Nigeria to film the show, alongside seven other contestants from each of Airtel Africa’s 13 other markets in Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, DRC among others.
Kapur said the next stage will be the unique and show-stopping Blind Auditions, for which The Voice is internationally renowned. Decisions from a high-profile panel of expert coaches will be based solely on voice, and not on looks. The coaches will hear the contestants perform, but they will not get to see them – thanks to rotating chairs.
If a coach is impressed by the contestant’s voice, he/she pushes a button to select the artist for his/her team. Once the teams are set, they enter the Battle Round, where coaches will dedicate themselves to developing their team of artists, giving them advice, and sharing the secrets of their success along with the help from their celebrity advisers.
At the end of various vocal challenges, only the strongest members of each coach’s roster remain and proceed to the new Knockout rounds. Here, coaches will decide who to take forward to the Live Shows. In this final phase, 16 potential singing superstars from across Africa – including two from Uganda will compete each week against each other during a live broadcast, taking place in March 2023.
The television audience will vote to save their favorite artists and one grand winner will ultimately be named ‘The Voice Africa’. The grand winner will be rewarded with USD $100,000 prize package, including a recording contract. Each of the seven selected contestants from each country will receive USD$5,000 and some Airtel goodies.
According to Airtel Uganda Managing Director Mr. Manoj Murali, this is a truly transformational opportunity for the musical talent of Uganda.
“I’m incredibly excited they get to be part of the world’s biggest singing competition and I’ve no doubt our nation will get behind them as they represent all our hopes and dreams. I would strongly encourage any aspiring singers to get uploading their Video Auditions” Murali said.
Akin Salami, CEO of FAME Studios and Executive Producer, The Voice Africa said more than ever before they are delighted to embark on this great project for Africa and that this is the first of its kind in the history of The Voice and they are looking forward to seeing creativity in its raw form, starting with the Virtual Audition.
“We are excited to have partnered with a committed brand like Airtel to show case Africa’s talent to the world, this is indeed going to make a difference in our continent,” said Salami.
About The Voice Africa Video Audition
Registration is free at www.thevoice.africa/en
Entrants must be 18 years and over, with a government-issued means of Identification which grants them access to The Voice Africa portal for registration
An active Airtel number is required to register for The Voice Africa
The deadline for Video Auditions is Sunday 6th November 2022
