Ariya Repete: Excitement as first set of contestants qualify in Ibadan

Ariya Repete, the biggest Yoruba Cultural Music Talent Hunt has produced its first set of quarter-finalists during the selection party held at Watershed Lounge, Old Ife Road, Ibadan on Friday.

After breathtaking auditions that judged the appearance/composure, creativity, vocalization and stage craft of each contestant, seven Fuji artists and three Juju artists qualified in each category to perform at the selection party. Five winners emerged after the selection with three Fuji and two Juju artists qualified to the quarterfinals respectively.

Aliu Inaolaji; Taiye Akanji and Ashafa Olusola emerged winners, Fuji T’o Bam, while Oshinbanjo Gabriel and Wale Daniel emerged winners, Juju T’o Gbayi.

Oshinbanjo Gabriel, one of the qualifying Juju artistes said that he is overjoyed particularly by Juju T’o Gbayi and commended Goldberg Lager Beer for making Ariya Repete an all inclusive Yoruba music platform. “Now, Juju music would be revived and even made bigger alongside its Fuji counterpart,” he said.

Emmanuel Agu, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc, reveals that “Goldberg is using Ariya Repete to extend its drive in discovering new talents in the two indigenous Yoruba music genres: Fuji and Juju music.”

He says the move is in line with its commitment to promote the culture and tradition of the people of South West Nigeria and commended all artists who took part in the exercise.

Other towns scheduled for auditions are: Ilorin, Ijebu-Ode, Osogbo, Abeokuta, Ado-Ekiti and Lagos.

With Ariya Repete, Goldberg plans to bring to its consumers the best of both Fuji and Juju music and an unparalleled experience with 40 contestants from both categories to compete in their respective capacities for a grand prize of One million Naira (N1, 000,000) and a recording deal.