Afrobeats singer Iyanya has revealed that he was selected for the first season of Nigerian Idols after participating in the audition in Calabar, Cross River State, but couldn't proceed to the finals due to his university commitments.
In a recent interview with Hip TV, Iyanya explained that he and Omawunmi, who eventually became the first runner-up in the 2007 maiden edition, were the only two contestants selected from the Calabar audition.
"Omawumi and I were the only ones picked at the Calabar Nigerian Idol auditions. I couldn't make it. I had my final year exam. A year later, I won Project Fame. Today, we're both judges on Nigerian Idol," Iyanya stated.
From Contestant to Judge
The "Kukere" hitmaker shared this revelation while discussing his current role as a co-judge alongside Omawunmi on the ongoing season of Nigerian Idols. The full-circle moment highlights both artists' journey from contestants to becoming established figures in the Nigerian music industry who now evaluate new talent.
Despite missing out on Nigerian Idols, Iyanya's career took off when he won the first edition of Project Fame West Africa the following year, launching him into stardom.
This revelation adds an interesting chapter to Iyanya's career story, showing how academic commitments temporarily delayed but didn't derail his music ambitions.
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