The first live show of MTN’s Next Afrobeats Star opened with a bang. From three group performances to the twelve standout performances and the pulse-pounding tension, it was clear this stage of the competition was about that “don’t play!” energy.
The judges traded playful jabs, the audience leaned in like it was a front-row concert, and votes were flung wide open. But in the midst of the competition’s raw ambition, one moment cut through, and it’s good that it was saved for last: Lil Kesh’s guest performance.
He stepped on stage with the kind of star power that everyone would expect. Channeling his signature YAGI-level bravado rapping “Dollar rise e no rise, Kon ma Ko mi ke”, Kesh delivered a high-voltage performance of Kilo Shele gan gan that felt both celebratory and strategic to signal to every contestant and viewer that this stage does not just discover stars, it makes them.
And that reminder was needed.
Lil Kesh is the kind of Nigerian artist who’s been there, done that, and still has something to prove. His voice carried swagger, and his energy talked to the young musicians watching from backstage as much as it did to the standing crowd. The moment when he made the electric switch to his hit track, Cause trouble, felt like a baptism by fire for the contestants: You want to run with the big boys (or big girls)? Bring your own blaze.
That performance was also a narrative anchor for the show’s larger mission: to blend the rawness of discovery with the polish of Afrobeats royalty. By bringing in a seasoned act like Lil Kesh, the producers benchmarked the show saying, “This space is real. This stage is real. And if you want to call yourself a Next Afrobeats Star, you’re gonna have to shine next to people who already are.”
Catch the next episodes of the show on TVC: Saturdays 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Sundays 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM, HipTv: Saturdays and Sundays 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Also, head to https://nextafrobeatsstar.com/ to vote for your favourite contestants.
