Who are the next MTV Shuga stars?

Last Thursday, thousands of young talented Nigerians trouped to Classique Events Centre Oregun, Ikeja in Lagos, venue of the audition for the new season of the thrilling youth-centric drama series, MTV Shuga. But who would become next celebrity-artists from featuring for a shot in the series?

The arena was filled to the brim, with youths journeying from across the country, slugging it out for an opportunity to partake in this new season of MTV Shuga which airs from September 2019.

This is coming as MTV Shuga set to return to Nigeria for its fourth season, after a successful series of seasons since its Nigerian premiere in 2013 which featured former child star, Sharon Ezeamaka and Timini Egbuson, among others.

“I left my job as an engineer to make it to this audition because acting is my passion, and I made a promise to myself that I’ll keep knocking on the door of fame till it opens for me,” says Adesewa who travelled six hours from Edo state to get a chance at the auditions.

By the time the casting doors opened at the audition arena, Adesewa and many like her who travelled from within and outside Lagos state had formed queues that stretched for nearly two kilometres.

Their eccentric fashion choices, catchy hair statements and colourful costumes were complemented amidst nervous chattering, just as some hopefuls rehearsed their monologues.

Sitting in the expansive room to decide their fates were the panel of judges which included Nigerian Television and Film Director, Tope Oshin; Head Writer, MTV Shuga Nigeria, Kemi Adesoye; Nigerian TV Producer and Filmmaker Tolulope Ajayi; as well as Senior Producer, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Wyn Baptiste.

For Oscar Madueke, who has high hopes for a call-back after the audition, “getting picked would change everything.”

Also speaking, an enthusiastic audition hopeful, Promise Okpala says: “It’s awesome…really awesome. I have followed all the six auditions of MTV Shuga and coming for the auditions has always been on my bucket list.”

“So when I found out they were having it here, I was like this is the chance to become the next big thing!” she added.

The venue wasn’t occupied by only those who came for the auditions, but also those who had participated and featured in previous seasons of the drama series.

MTV Shuga stars such as Timini Egbuson, Jemima Osunde, Bukola Oladipupo, as well as talented MTV’s Video Jockeys Ehiz, Sammy Walsh and Nenny B etc also turned up to lend their support, to the aspiring casts.

According to the organisers, audition hopefuls who were successful would have the opportunity to star with returning cast members of MTV Shuga.

They said they’re very optimistic that featuring in the series would launch the new talents into a high profile entertainment career on the back of the drama series which has produced several stars, including Academy Award winner, Lupita Nyong’o.

“MTV Shuga Naija is a multi-sectoral partnership involving the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and is supported by MTV Base Africa, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),” they added.