Ghana: Mentor music reality show unveils top six

The remaining participants of the contest, which commenced with 16 acts, are Kwaku Bany, Ayeyi, Netty, Semenhyia, Lyte and Hyndu.

Put together by local television station TV3, this year’s edition of Mentor is running under the theme, Own the Stage, and seeks to provide a springboard for undiscovered artists in the country. 

“Beyond offering a platform to discover extraordinary talents, we seek to add value and equip these young musicians with the requisite music business knowledge, industry insights and support to transform them into global stars,” Francis Doku, the general manager of TV3’s parent company, Media General Ghana, said at the launch of the season in August.

On Sunday, the young talents will compete for the top prize which includes Ghs 10 000 (about $1 700) cash, a new car, two mastered songs and $8 500 worth of airtime across the company’s TV, radio and digital platforms. The ultimate winner will also take over from rapper Optional King, who is the current holder of the title. 

The first runner-up takes home $1 700, one mastered song and $6 500 worth of airtime. The second runner-up will receive about $1 400, one mastered song and $5 000 worth of airtime, while the third runner-up will get $900, one mastered song and $3 500 in airtime.

Rapper Edem, singer Adina, Musicians Union of Ghana president Bessa Simons and producer Appietus constitute the judges for the show.

“It has been exacting, but very interesting thirteen weeks of live television production with these young talents who gave off their best with great performances every single week and we are happy that one of them would have his or her efforts crowned on Sunday,” Doku noted.

“It is unfortunate that 10 out of the 16 of them fell off along the way, in keeping with the rules of eviction for the show, however, we do not take for granted the value each one of them brought to the show and what they took from it as lessons to enhance their chosen craft or musicianship. We believe that all of them are winners, regardless of who is adjudged winner on Sunday.”