Last night’s episode of Nigerian Idol Season 10 was everything: emotional, electrifying, and downright unforgettable. What started with four incredibly talented finalists quickly turned into a bittersweet night of cheers, tears, and game-changing performances, as Mikki and Lawrence took their final bows.

That leaves us with just two: Purp and Raymu. And with the grand finale just days away, the stakes have never been higher.

 The Night Unfolded in Three Explosive Segments:

1. Judges’ Choice:

The judges pulled out their best picks, and the contestants delivered.

• Purp opened with a graceful rendition of Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All,” powerful, poised, and perfectly delivered.

• Lawrence bared his soul with Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man,” showing the emotional control we’ve come to love him for.

• Raymu set the stage ablaze with Usher’s “Burn,” smooth vocals, and undeniable stage presence.

• Mikki soared with “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban, pulling on every heartstring in the room.

But then came the night’s first heartbreak: Lawrence was eliminated. The crowd roared in support as he gave his heartfelt thanks and left the stage with grace.

Moments later, the next shocker hit: Mikki was also voted out. Just like that, the dream narrowed to two.

2. “This Is How It Should Be Done”

This round flipped the script: the finalists were asked to perform songs that other contestants butchered during the audition phase, the ones that left judges cringing. It was their moment to show exactly how it should’ve been done.

• Purp performed “Anyone” by Demi Lovato, a song that stumped many during auditions. But with her powerful vocals and emotional depth, she transformed it into a haunting, heartfelt performance. “This is for anyone who feels alone,” she said, her voice carrying strength and vulnerability.

• Raymu took on “Fallin’” by Alicia Keys, one of the most poorly delivered songs during the audition rounds. But Raymu’s smooth tone, honesty, and vocal control brought the soul back to the song. “Alicia Keys is who I aspire to be; I want to be a believable singer,” he shared before leaving the audience completely drawn in.

3. Viewers’ Choice:

Fans picked the songs, and the finalists brought the fire.

• Raymu delivered a hauntingly beautiful rendition of “Lay Me Down” by Sam Smith. Omawumi summed it up perfectly: “You shone through the night.”

• Purp followed with Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love,” wrapping the room in warmth and effortless elegance.

Before the night wrapped, Lawrence returned for one final performance of “Bruises” by Lewis Capaldi, a moving reminder of just how far he’d come. Mikki followed with “We Are the World,” a fitting close to his journey of unity, power, and voice.

From thousands of auditions to two unforgettable voices, it all comes down to Purp and Raymu. Who will win? Who will wear the crown? Who will become the next Nigerian Idol?

Vote now on the Africa Magic Website or via the MyDStv or MyGOtv apps on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Catch the Grand Finale live this Sunday at 7 PM on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv Ch. 151, GOtv Ch. 8), Africa Magic Family (DStv Ch. 154, GOtv Ch. 7), or stream live on GOtv & DStv Stream apps and also on Showmax. Stay plugged in because GOtv has got you covered from now until July 31st. Reconnect or renew your subscription and enjoy an automatic upgrade to a higher bouquet at no extra cost.

At a time when Africa’s people are navigating a series of cost-of-living shocks and commercial margins are under relentless pressure, organisations can achieve long-term business sustainability by focusing on the service they provide, and the value it can generate for their customers.

This may not be the time for record-setting revenues – particularly for businesses dependent on the discretionary spending of hard-hit consumers. However, it can be an exciting time for African enterprises to embrace the purpose that first inspired them, and to focus on living that purpose.

For pan-African entertainment group MultiChoice Africa, this is precisely such a time. The Group has a long history of creating relevant local content for the 50 continental markets in which it operates. Its financial position remains strong, with significant growth in business units such as Showmax (customers up 44% year-on-year), DStv internet (revenue up 85%) and its BetKings spots-betting operation (revenue up 76%), but there is an understanding that customers are under pressure, and their needs must come first.

Investing in content

That means investing in the product, producing content that will add value for Africans – creating the culturally relevant shows that allow you, as an African, to see yourself in the content you consume, but also as a financial investment in the growth of an industry.

That ongoing MultiChoice investment added more than 5 340 hours of locally produced films and shows over the past financial year, growing the Group’s local-content library to 91 470 hours. Flagship reality shows like Big Brother Mzansi and Big Brother Naija are in the vanguard of this content drive, attracting strong viewership, along with the Group’s ever-popular global sport offering.

SuperSport broadcast 47 839 hours of live coverage last year and produced 1 029 live events. Viewers stayed glued to world sports events like the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the EURO 2024 football.

Developing careers

The true impact of this local content lies not in the fact that it can compete with global shows in terms of quality and entertainment value, but that every second of it supports the careers of African creatives and production staff.

Whether it’s Kenyan actors, Nigerian presenters, a Tanzanian camera crew, Ethiopian directors and grips, or a Ugandan post-production team, local content creates thousands of jobs across Africa. It also ensures that MultiChoice can tell African stories that resonate directly with local audiences. That ability to “See Yourself” continues to distinguish the group’s offering from foreign streaming services.

To ensure a pipeline of talented staff to produce that local content, the group invests in MultiChoice Talent Factory academies across the region – one in Lusaka, another in Lagos, and a third in Nairobi – each producing dozens of qualified film graduates every year.

These young filmmakers are commissioned to produce movies for MultiChoice channels – Africa Magic, Zambezi Magic, Maisha Magic etc – in the course of their studies. This ensures that by the time they graduate from the year-long courses, they are equipped to produce entertaining content that is right up to MultiChoice standards.

Meeting customers where they are also means accommodating their financial needs. To enhance its value proposition, MultiChoice has also tiered down certain channels, reintroduced the second concurrent stream at no extra cost and priced down its DStv ADD Movies packages. It has also piloted weekly subscriptions in Uganda to better align subscription periods with customer cash flows.

Social engagement

The Group remained locally engaged through ongoing social investment. As the African media partner to The Earthshot Prize in 2024, MultiChoice showcased the work of social entrepreneurs across the continent and supported the platform that awarded five winners each year with £1-million grants to fund their initiatives.

The MTF Academy investment has already produced 467 interns and graduates, trained 1 500 masterclass participants and seen 152 films go into production.

Across Africa, the group is demonstrating how private investment translates into job creation, economic stability, and talent development.

In every one of the territories where MultiChoice operates, this local-investment approach dovetails perfectly with national-development goals, building career pathways, creating aspirational African content for African people, and driving economy growth.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The prize pool for winners in the 2025 FUZE by Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has been increased by 80 per cent to N90 million from the N50 million won last year.

With over 18,000 entries received since inception, FUZE has grown into one of the most dynamic youth platforms in Nigeria, serving not only as a showcase for talent but also as a launchpad for creative careers.

This year, the experience expands even further, blending competition with cultural storytelling, collaborative performance, and immersive digital engagement.

The initiative is Stanbic IBTC Holdings’ flagship youth empowerment platform built to spotlight the future of Nigerian talent.

Now in its fourth season, FUZE returns under a bold new theme The Ultimate Show, and organisers promised that it would be bigger, broader, and even more thrilling with opportunities for emerging stars across four creative categories of music, dance, fashion, and tech.

Audiences and participants can expect to compete in a viral remix challenge, a story challenge that redefines audience participation, and a show format inspired by global entertainment standards but deeply rooted in Nigeria’s vibrant youth expression.

To enter for this year’s talent show, participants are encouraged to visit events.stanbic ibtc.com, fill out the application form, upload a 1-minute video showcasing their talent in either music, fashion, dance or tech and submit to receive a unique ID via email.

For ongoing updates and key announcements, participants and fans can visit the official FUZE landing page. The dedicated Events App also offers real-time updates, exclusive content, and schedules. For a glimpse into the energy of previous seasons, the Season 3 YouTube playlist offers a compelling showcase of FUZE’s journey so far.

“At Stanbic IBTC, we remain steadfast in our commitment to initiatives that contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, especially through the empowerment of young people.

“We believe strongly in the transformative power of youth. This platform brings that belief to life by creating an environment where talent is discovered, nurtured, and elevated into opportunity. FUZE Season 4 is a continuation of that purpose, and this edition promises to be our most impactful yet,” the chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Olumide Oyetan, said.

Also, the acting chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mr Kunle Adedeji, said, “FUZE has always been more than just performance, it is about giving young people across Nigeria a credible, visible and powerful space to showcase who they are and what they can become. This season, we are doubling down on that promise by expanding the format, the prize pool and the reach.”