With a big bang Monica, Iyanya, and Chuddy K kicked off MTN Project Fame Season 5 in grand style. After auditions in ten major cities in West Africa, the eighteen finalists sang their hearts out to convince the judges to give them a ticket into the highly coveted fifteen spaces in the Project Fame academy.

The hosts of the show - beautifully adorned Adora Oleh and Joseph Benjamin the dapper stepped out elegantly on the world class stage to kick off the night. The faculty and judges in their usual exquisite element were introduced with glamour. Worthy of note is the introduction of Ade Bantu, as a new member of the panel of judges, whom has begun to ingrain his wealth of experience and expertise into the music climate of Project Fame.

Getting in to the Academy was a dream come true for all of the contestants. Their entry into the academy was punctuated with screams of joy and excitement. It was one of those too-good-to-be-true moments. The lush furnishing, elegant framed pictures on the walls, a mirrored dance and fitness room, swimming pool, patio dining area  all looked like a movie. But the fabulous 15 made it in after a long tough road.

After a week's stay in the Academy, it was time for the contestants to prove what they have learnt so far on stage. They treated the whole of West Africa to a delightful cocktail of musical performances.

The evening kicked off with Didi, Marvellous, and Musulyn singing Michael Bolton's 'Lean On Me, 'So Amazing' by Luther Vandross and Alicia Keys' 'If I ain't got you'. They opened the floor with their individual performances easing everyone into the show fully.

Ayo, Kemi and Chinyere did not dull at all. They upped the game as each of them performed Bob Marley's 'Redemption Song', 'Best Thing I Never Had' by Beyonce Knowles and 'Someone Like You' by Adele.

After these six phenomenal performances, came Adetoun, Tega and Grace beautifully pulling 'Listen' by Beyonce, Toni Braxton's 'Unbreak My Heart'and 'Can't I Live' by Toni Braxton.

The next set of contestants sang their way into everyone's heart effortlessly as they took our musical journey to the next level as Oyinkansade sang 'So Sick' by Neyo, Edward performed 'All Night Long' by Lionel Richie and Brenda's energetic display of Beyonce's 'Hello'.

After these twelve awesome performances, the last three contestants took up the challenge and beautifully brought the day to a climax with Vanessa William's 'Color of the Wind', 'My Girl' by The Temptations and Reuben Studdards' 'Flying Without Wings'. So with Sonia, Joshua and Christian rounding in such manner, the judges and faculty took time to express their views.

While Brenda got a lot accolades from the faculty after mentioning that they all seemed to have sang in their comfort zones, the judges also felt the contestants were good but advised them to bring something exceptional to the table because only the very exceptional will survive.

Tomorrow, they will all be singing again but this time to escape being put on probation. As the contest toughens, the drama and twist begins!

The effect of yesterday’s eviction was still very fresh in the air as the contestants began to realise the essence of the competition. It was another night where they all gave it their best to escape the judge’s probation list.

Opening the floor was the sonorous Port Harcourt girl, Chidinma. She held everyone spellbound as she rendered ‘Wind beneath my wings’ by Betty Midler. The judges commended the tone of her voice and the personal feel she gave the song, but reminded her to be careful with pitching to avoid the risk of shouting. Next was beautiful Saro girl, Velma doing ‘From this moment’ by Shania Twain. The judges enjoyed her performance but pointed out that she could have done better than what she did, and the faculty promised to work on her.

The first eviction show was tension-packed, and you could almost see the nerves on the faces of the six contestants, wondering what their fate would be?

Aziga opened the drama-ladened show with a vastly improved performance of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s get it on’. His emotions were more on point this time, his vocal delivery too did not go unnoticed and Kwame could not resist dropping some rhymes  himself like ‘Aziga my nigga, probation is the trigger’, when commenting on the performance.

The contestants were still excited and basking in the euphoria of their new place of abode, when Mummy J came in for her class. They were glad to have her in the Academy for the first time and her class was commendation all the way. She talked about their last performances and took time to analyze them one after the other.

It was also Uncle Ben’s first class in the Academy. Ethel came in late for the class but found grace in the sight of Uncle Ben, he congratulated them all for their last performances and encouraged them to work harder for the final huddle. In preparation for the final lap of the competition, they were all asked to choose a song they would want to relive;