Lonestar Cell MTN Liberia has announced the launch of its reality talent show which seeks to bring out Liberian musical talents by providing a lifetime opportunity to make their dreams and aspirations come true. The project under the theme: Lonestar Cell MTN Y’ellow Star ‘’bigger and better’ with sponsorship from Shop At SNS Liberia was formally launched on Friday, June 17, 2022, at an elaborate program held at the Ocean Green, in Monrovia. The event brought together partners and music lovers of the Liberian Music Industry and officials of Lonestar Cell MTN.
Lonestar Cell MTN Y’ellow Star is a talent hunt initiative that was birthed by the company last year as a means of identifying and unleashing the hidden and untapped potential of Liberian singers, rappers, and upcoming musicians who are still at the grassroots level and seeking opportunities to explore.
Season 1 was held at the renamed Ellen Johnson Ministerial Complex after several months of growing young and qualified Liberians who were accepted by the judges and Ms. Kandance Cooper emerged as its first winner thereby paving the way for others.
Lonestar Cell MTN Communication Manager Ms. Abigail Nafeadalai, who give the overview, told the gathering that the first stage to be accepted into the program – application process for interested young Liberians who want to participate should produce a non-studio song video and upload it on Lonestar Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp, TikTok among other and tag @lonestarcell-mtn and use the hashtag #yelloowstarlib.
‘’Prizes for this year’s competition winner, are a brand new SUV car, 1.5 million Liberian dollars record deal and three hundred thousand Liberian dollars cash prize, a slot to perform at the Liberia Music Award (LMA) in November, one hundred GB data for a year and six months of free gasoline”, she said.
According to Ms. Nafeadalai, the loading of the video starts June 17, 2022, and ends July 4, 2022, and after that time the application process of loading the video on the social media will be closed and the judges will now look at them for vetting to get the best.
Continuing, she disclosed that after the online application which is expected to last for two weeks, the judges will select all the candidates and call them for an in-person audition where they will be judged to get the 30 finalists to be taken to the Lonestar Cell MTN Y’ellow academy for mentorship and training into what the candidate dream of becoming.
Lonestar Cell MTN Communication Manager noted that the process is open to all Liberians in Liberia and will begin with the first in-person physical audition for Grand Bassa, Margabi, Cape Mount, Bomi, and Gbarpolu counties in Montserrado County respectively, after the online application selection.
She said Nimba County will be the last with contestants coming from Lofa, Bong, Maryland, River Gee, and Grand Kru among other counties to showcase their in-person audition to qualify them among the 30 finalists who will be taken to the Lonestar Cell MTN Y’ello academy for training and thereafter, there will be a weekly audition to drop candidates until they can have the grand finalist at the Ministerial Complex.
“Your video must be one minute thirty seconds, introduce yourself, do not use an instrument or any sound while doing your video rather your raw voice. Another thing, you must have a very good background void of noise with good lighting so that you can be seen and recognized. The program is for Liberian residing in Liberia between the ages of 17- 35 years old. The winner will get six months of free gasoline, 1 SUV or jeep, a free recording record deal, and many more’’ Ms. Nadeadalai narrated.
Also speaking, Lonestar Cell MTN Product and Service Manager, Adebayo Oyeyipo said Lonestar Cell MTN has recognized that Liberia is a very blessed and gifted country with good talents and potential in its youthful population, particularly when it comes to entertainment and musical acts, stressing that Lonestar MTN has decided to develop, expose and build the art capacity of young Liberians by giving them the space to explore their hidden potential.
“I believe that this is the platform that will attract so much greatness and indeed an opportunity and privilege to form part of this fun of career development and talent explosion.”
Narrating her experience as the Lonestar MTN Y’ellow Star season 1 winner, Kandance Copper remarked that the initiative brought a very good opportunity to her life and she will never forget it because it is not easy to win a new car, and a record deal and money.
She, however, urged Liberians to make use of the opportunity and apply even though the competition has lots of great singers from all over the country. “My advice to the next interested competitors is that you should act like a star, dress like a star and walk like a star now and make sure you are confident, and trust yourself “
Reported by: Stephen G. Fellajuah
Whatsapp: +23 777015294
Email fellajuahstepheng@gmail.com
