Monrovia, May 28, 2024 – In a celebration of emerging talent, Minister of Information, Culture Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), Jerolinmek M. Piah, awarded prizes to the top three finalists of the Rising Stars Talent Hunt competition. This nationwide talent show, launched on December 28, 2023, in collaboration with popular Liberian musician Friday-the-Cellphone-Man and his dance crew, aims to discover and promote new talents across Liberia.
During the awards ceremony held at the Ministry of Information on Wednesday, Minister Piah emphasized the abundance of talent in Liberia across various fields such as sports, artistry, and music. However, he noted that more needs to be done to support and advance these local talents.
“This initiative is crucial for exposing young talents and setting an example for Liberians in the diaspora to invest in local talents, thereby improving the livelihoods of their countrymen,” Minister Piah stated. He praised the organizers for their innovative approach to nurturing young talents in Liberia, seeing it as a pathway for them to gain recognition both locally and internationally.
The Rising Stars competition concluded with a grand event at the EJS Ministerial Complex on April 28, 2024, followed by the awards ceremony on May 29. Out of ten participants, three emerged as winners. The grand prizes included a car for the first-place winner, an iPhone 13 Pro Max for the second-place winner, and a Dell laptop for the third-place winner.
Minister Piah expressed his hope that these prizes would motivate other young talents to pursue and showcase their abilities. He also acknowledged the organizers for their professionalism and integrity in ensuring that the winners received their promised prizes.
The first-place winner, Jaba S. Saha, known as Spankey Span, expressed his joy and gratitude: “Words are inadequate to express the joy I feel right now. I am happy to own my first car ever through my talent. When I first started my career, even my parents doubted my path, but now my family is celebrating with me. I am truly grateful to the organizers.”
Samuel P. Zayzay, also known as King Samuel, the second-place winner who received an iPhone 13 Pro Max, shared his excitement: “There are millions of talented people out there just like me who lack the opportunity to experience such exposure. For me, this is a dream come true.”
The third-place winner, who received a Dell laptop, reflected on his journey from an underdog artist with no support to a recognized star: “I started with no support and promotion, but now I am here as a star and getting the recognition I deserve.”
Emmanuel B. Lavelah, the coordinator of the Rising Stars competition, highlighted the untapped potential of Liberian talent due to a lack of financial support. He encouraged well-off Liberians to see entertainment as a viable investment opportunity. “The Rising Stars Talent competition is a wonderful initiative to promote young talents in Liberia. It’s heartening to see the government’s support and acknowledgment of the importance of nurturing local talent. The prizes awarded to the winners will undoubtedly serve as motivation for other young Liberians to showcase their skills,” Lavelah said.
He continued, “We can’t just sit around and do nothing for the young people, especially those with talents. That’s why the CEO of Rising Star, Alberta Williams, in collaboration with Liberia’s musical icon, Friday the Cellphone-Man, decided to assist young talents by organizing this first edition of the talent competition.”
The Rising Stars Talent Hunt has proven to be a significant step towards recognizing and promoting young talents in Liberia, fostering a sense of hope and ambition among the nation’s youth.
