Reality shows and talent hunts are creative and entertaining programmes that seek to unearth and nurture the abilities of skilful people.
Like diamonds, they are dug from the mud and cut into fine pieces worth a fortune.
Over the years, many acts have risen from obscurity to become top stars from the platforms created for them on the numerous shows organised in the country, some making headlines on prime-time television.
Besides entertaining the audience, the participants learn valuable lessons to shape their craft for life.
While some have climbed to the apex to enjoy celebrity status, others have faded quickly from the limelight like the speed of light.
Over the years, there have been countless reality shows in Ghana, but only a few have made an impact by producing top-notch entertainers.
With many more shows churned out every day which dominate traditional and social media, The Ghana Report looks back to catalogue the most exciting shows to uncover talented people who shot to stardom.
1. Kasahari Level
Kasahari Level was one of the hottest’ battlefields’ for emerging rappers put together by Adom FM more than a decade ago. It showcased underground acts from different areas which appeared weekly on the programme to test their rap prowess against others.
Little did we know that battling 15 rappers and emerging the winner was the catalyst to Sarkodie’s successful career.
Today, Sarkodie is one of the biggest acts to dominate global headlines and was the first Ghanaian to scoop the BET Award for International Act Africa in 2012 after several attempts by many others.
His debut album ‘Makye’ won five honours at the 2010 Ghana Music Awards.
With his debut album, he also got an international nomination – Best Anglophone Act in the 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards.
Sarkodie has gone on to win awards like the BET Hip Hop Award for Best International in 2019, among others.
His contributions to the Ghanaian music industry have earned him numerous accolades, including the Vodafone Ghana Music Award for “Artiste of the Decade”.
Whenever Obidi goes on his knees to pray to God, he says a prayer for the radio station, Adom FM, for their Kasahari Level Show because it did him a lot of good.
2. Stars Of The Future
Charter House’s Stars Of The Future Reality Show is one of the best musical shows where raw talents were scouted, nurtured, groomed and brought into the limelight to shine.
Stars Of The Future provided the opportunity to many untapped talents to realise their dreams of being musicians.
Efya is arguably one of the biggest who was propelled by the show.
She is one of the most energetic female songstress in Ghana. You can rate her voice as the best, and you won’t be far from right.
In the reality show, she was the 1st runner-up in the maiden edition and became one of the best female vocalists in the music industry.
To her fans, she is sexy and sassy; to her fellow songstress, she is the embodiment of a real competitor who will give you a run for your money. The songstress has proven beyond reasonable doubt that she is a star and will continue gracing our screens with her mesmerising voice.
Efya won the Best Female Vocal Performance category at the Ghana Music Awards in four successions, beginning in 2011.
Efya has a list of other international awards, including the 2016 Nigerian Entertainment Awards African Female Artist of the Year (Non-Nigerian) and the 2016 African Muzik Magazine Awards Best Female West Africa.
In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women’s Brunch.
Another star from the show was Adina Thembi, a Ghanaian-South African singer, songwriter, actress and sometimes model. She won the 2008 edition of the programme.
She was also the Best Female Vocalist and picked up the Best Afropop Song of the Year awards at the 2017 edition of the Ghana Music Awards.
She was the best vocalist for two successive years, winning the award again in 2018.
In March 2021, her song WHY was the Reggae Dancehall Song of the Year in the 3Music Awards.
Adina won three honours at the 2021 Ghana Music Awards.
These include Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Reggae Dancehall Song of the Year.
She was also named among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women’s Brunch.
Others who emerged as top stars from the show include Irene Logan and Kaakie.
3. Vodafone Icons
Vodafone Icons is a music reality show that focuses on discovering talents from neighbourhoods and communities while grooming them to exhibit their abilities in a 13-episode video production on television.
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Noella Wiyaala participated in the 2012 Vodafone Icons and won it in the mixed edition.
The energetic afro-pop singer and songwriter sings in her native Sissala and Waale dialects, mixing it with the English language.
The ‘lioness’ and ‘Pride of the North’ took the music industry by storm with her singles ‘Make Me Dance’ in 2013 and ‘Rock My Body’ in 2014.
She swept the 2014 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) Most Promising Artiste in Africa and Revelation of the African Continent awards.
In 2015, she won the Songwriter of The Year and Best Female Vocal Performance honours at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
4. Next Movie Star
The Next Movie Star was a reality television series centred around discovering new talents in the acting profession.
The show was created in Nigeria by Sola Fajobi in 2004, and in 2016 it was extended to 10 other African countries.
Participants were usually camped together for weeks and groomed to become knowledgeable and skilled in their craft.
The programme was broadcast on several television channels across the continent.
Some of its alumni that have become established in the entertainment industry include Martha Ankomah and Lydia Forson (2007).
Tonto Dike (2005), Uti Nwachukwu, Karen Igho, and Annie Idibia (2005) from Nigeria also had successful acting careers.
Martha Ankomah started with theatrical performances at the National Theatre in 1996 during the days of Fun World and Kiddafest.
Her decision to battle with equally good actors in the Next Movie Star 2007 reality show has paid off.
Her strong personality and unique acting skills caught viewers’ eyes while in the house. Martha’s versatility and good acting skills are the secrets to her success.
In 2012 she won the Best Actress In Lead Role at the Ghana Movie Awards.
She also won the Best Actress in Supporting Role in 2011 and Favorite Actress in 2015 at the Ghana Movie Awards.
Many did not know that the beautiful, controversial and outspoken actress Lydia Forson was also featured in The Next Movie Star.
The ‘Heart of Men’ and ‘Kiss Me If You Can’ actress struck many as a sex symbol, but she proved Ghanaians wrong with her role as a moron in ‘Bed of Roses’.
When counting her laurels, she will be proud to mention being the second runner-up in the Next Movie Star 2007.
Though she starred in the comedy series Hotel St James and Different Shades of Blue, many didn’t know her until they watched her in The Next Movie Star 2007 reality show.
It was only then that they realised the duo — Martha and Lydia– represented Ghana in the reality show.
They both exhibited impeccable acting prowess to the admiration of all who watched.
The versatile actress, selected as part of the six finalists in the 2007 edition, became one of the finest actresses in Ghana and beyond.
It didn’t come as a surprise when she was the lead actress in Shirley Frimpong-Manso’s ‘Scorned’.
Lydia’s appealing personality, charisma and eloquence are traits that most movie critics will score high on.
In 2010 she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
In 2012, she won the Best Screenplay (In The Cupboard) at the Ghana Awards.
In 2018, she won the Best Supporting Actress at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
5. MTN Hitmaker
The music reality show hinges on discovering talents and grooming them to exhibit their music skills in writing, composure and delivery on a stage.
The show has churned out numerous talents over the years — the likes of afro-pop singers Kidi and Kuami Eugene.
Kidi won the fourth edition of the MTN Hitmaker competition in 2015, after which he was signed to Lynx Entertainment.
The reigning Artiste of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, Kidi, came through the rank and file of the MTN Hitmaker reality show.
He won the Highlife Song of the Year at the 2017 4syte Music Video Awards.
He won the Best Male Vocalist at the 2019 Ghana Music Awards and the Best Male Vocal Performance at the 2019 3Music Awards.
His Sugar Album emerged as the Album of The Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards.
After MTN Hitmaker Season 5, Kuami Eugene was also signed to Lynx Entertainment and made quite a name for himself with his genre of music.
He has released hit after hit and remains the toast of many music lovers in Ghana and beyond.
Kuami Eugene emerged as the New Artiste of the Year at the 2018 Ghana Music Awards, and a year later, he got an impressive seven nominations, going on to win three of them.
In 2020, he won the ultimate as the Artiste of the Year at the 2020 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
MTN Hitmaker has also produced mainstream stars like Mr. Drew and Freda Rhymes, among others.
6. Ghana’s Most Beautiful
The show has transformed the meaning of beauty pageants in Ghana.
It is the first pageantry in Ghana to focus on the diverse Ghanaian tradition, paying attention to decency, beauty with brains, and purpose while upholding the rich Ghanaian culture.
Over the years, traditional leaders have joined to give this show the prominence it deserves.
The show has provided opportunities to both winners and participants to take on developmental projects within their communities.
Notable among the stars from the programme is Baciara Abigail Bentil, the ultimate crown winner in 2014.
Since then, she has risen to become a philanthropist, a brand influencer and Miss Africa country director.
7. Talented Kids
This show has become a household name since it started in 2010 on the TV3 Network.
It has parents glued to their seats with its positive outcomes.
The show, which grooms young talents in the country, has produced many globally recognised talents.
The show produced one of Ghana’s best disc jockeys, Erica Tandoh, popularly known as Dj Switch.
She beat other young contenders and emerged the winner of the 2017 competition. She was acknowledged by American rapper Jay-Z’s Rock Nation entertainment.
The young act had the opportunity to open the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s annual Goalkeeper’s event in New York City in 2018.
Others who shot to fame due to the programme are Tutulapato and Awal.
8. Nescafe African Revolution
This show was put together by one of the biggest promoting companies, STB McCann, and organised by Top Dogg.
It was a local and sub-regional experience that discovered, celebrated and rewarded young and fresh African musical talents.
More than 5,000 young people from Central and West Africa showcased their talent for a chance to win a spot in the television show.
The show produced notable stars such as PRAYE, and RANA, among others.
Praye won the Ultimate Award at the 2005 Nescafe African Revolution. The group won the Artiste of the Year Award at the 2006 Ghana Music Awards.
Praye comprised of Nana Kwame (Praye Tintin), Eugene Baah (Praye ho ne ho), and Steven Fiawoo (Praye tiatia).
Their style and blend resulted in several hit songs which remained on the lips of many music lovers in Ghana.
It is somewhat ironic to realise that a group like Praye, a symbol of unity in Ghanaian society, had to split.
After several years without significant impact on their solo careers, they announced their reunion and performed at the 2018 VGMAs.
9. Miss Malaika
Miss Malaika is a reality show focusing on beauty pageantry and first aired in Ghana in 2003, produced by Charter House. The show is staged in a 12 to 13-week reality show.
Miss Malaika unearthed talents such as Mariam Owusu-Poku, winner in 2018, and Berla Mundi, among others.
Upon winning the pageant, she moved from modelling to acting.
Even though she has featured in a few TV shows and movies, ENO, being aired on Ghanaian Showmax Original, is her biggest project so far.
Before joining Media General, Berla Mundi was a contestant in the 2010 Miss Malaika beauty pageant. She finished the competition in the second position, which gave her enough exposure to the industry.
Berla then started working as a TV personality and is currently with TV3 as a co-host of ‘New day’.
In 2017, she won the Best Female Events MC at the Ghana Events Awards.
She won the TV Female Entertainment Show Host of the year – RTP Awards in 2018.
She was adjudged the Favorite TV Presenter at the Peoples Choice Celebrity Awards in 2017.
She also picked up the Media Personality of the Year – Glitz Style Awards in 2018.
Today, Berla is arguably one of the sought-after TV presenters in Ghana.
She also had the opportunity to grace many shows with her radiant smile and charming personality.