Popular Afrobeats star Iyanya has revealed an interesting twist in his journey to stardom — he was originally selected for the first season of Nigerian Idols but missed out on the finals due to academic commitments.
The “Kukere” hitmaker made the revelation during a recent chat with Hip TV, where he reflected on his early struggles and his unexpected rise to fame.
📍 Selected Alongside Omawumi in Calabar
Iyanya disclosed that he and fellow singer Omawumi, who later became the first runner-up of the inaugural Nigerian Idol season in 2007, were the only two contestants picked from the Calabar auditions.
“Omawumi and I were the only ones picked at the Calabar Nigerian Idol auditions,” he said.
🎓 Why He Missed the Finals
However, despite scaling through the auditions, Iyanya said he had to forfeit the finals of the show because it clashed with his final year university exams.
“I couldn’t make it. I had my final year exam,” he recalled.
🌟 Destiny Redirected – Project Fame Came Next
While the missed opportunity could have been a setback, fate had other plans for Iyanya. Just a year later, he went on to win the maiden edition of Project Fame West Africa, launching his career in the Nigerian music industry.
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🪑 Now a Judge on Nigerian Idol
In a beautiful full-circle moment, Iyanya is now serving as a judge on the ongoing season of Nigerian Idol, alongside Omawumi, the very co-contestant he once auditioned with nearly two decades ago.
- “A year later, I won Project Fame. Today, we’re both judges on Nigerian Idol,” he said proudly.
📝 Final Thoughts
Iyanya’s journey is a testament to divine timing, hard work, and persistence. Missing one opportunity didn’t mean the end — it was just the beginning of a greater chapter.
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