Makepeace Shapira has become a
millionaire overnight courtesy of a televised karaoke competition,
Techno Own the Stage. She tells Saturday Beats about her experience on
the show
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Your name Shapira sounds foreign, is it your real name?
Yes, Shapira is my dad’s name. It is actually my surname. I am from Benue State, I call myself a positive Tiv girl.
You won in a karaoke
competition but there is a difference being a karaoke singer and an
actual singer. Do you think you have the qualities of a star?
Yes I have the makings of a star. Aside
from it being a karaoke competition, we were judged based on our vocals
and performances, so I believe that besides winning in a karaoke
competition, I can stand on my own as I can also sing, perform, and
write my own songs.
How did you become a singer?
It actually started in the university
with a friend of mine who believed in me. When I was in Benue State
University, I went to visit a friend who was into music. He just played
some instrumentals to a song on his system and went to take his bath and
by the time he came back, he met me rapping to the song. I started out
as a rap artiste. He was shocked and insisted that I perform with him in
a show he had that night. I went with him to the show, I performed and
that was how I started. Before I knew it, I had become a university
celebrity overnight.
Are you done with schooling?
Yes I am done with schooling. I am currently working as a teacher. I am a humble teacher.
So, how did a teacher get to know about Techno Own the stage competition?
It was through a friend, Ovie. He kept
disturbing me about a show coming up which was sponsored by Techno. He
said that he believed in me and encouraged me to go for it. As of then, I
had practically given up on any competition because anytime I went for
one, I never got far. I thought I didn’t have what it takes to win at
competitions but he kept on insisting that I go for the competition.
On the day I was meant to go for the
competition, I almost forgot because I was sleeping. He called me and
told me he was at the venue and that I should start coming. I had to
rush there. I wasn’t even prepared and I didn’t believe that I was going
to be picked because I heard that they only needed about five people
out of a whole pool of Nigerians that were present there. When I was
picked, I felt so privileged.
How many competitions have you tried out before this one?
A lot. I have been to MTN Project Fame
at least twice. I was at the Nigerian Idols about twice. I was also in
Nokia First Chance but I didn’t go far before I was kicked out.
What are you going to do with the $25,000 prize money?
To be honest, the main reason I
participated in this competition was to get the prize money and to sing.
Now I get to keep the prize money and also sing because I am going to
get a record deal for free. It is a privilege for me. Besides, I am
going to work with celebrities and to me, that is a very big deal.
As for the prize money, I am going to
invest it because I don’t believe in spending all the money right now on
buying a car, land, or house. I would want to invest that money and
make it yield returns. When the money yields returns in large sums, then
I will be able to do what I need to do like buying a car for my daddy
and something special for my mother.
Did it come as a surprise to you that you won the competition?
I am actually surprised I won because I
saw Nandy as a serious contender. The girl is good and she has got stage
presence. I was scared when my microphone stopped working and I thought
that would count against me but alas, I was called upon as the winner
and I was very happy.
What would you say worked for you in this competition?
The vocal coaches always told us to have
confidence and I believe that was what worked for me. No matter how
nervous I was, I had to conceal it and continue with my performance.
Even when the microphone stopped working, I kept on singing because I
knew that the show must go on.
How about your parents, how did they feel when they learnt you went for another competition?
Well, my dad wasn’t aware because he was
not too supportive of me delving into music. My mum on the other hand
has been very supportive. She couldn’t make it to the grand finale
because she had a very important event to attend. It doesn’t mean that I
am not important too but I won this for her, my dad, my family and all
my loved ones. It is also for all those who voted for me.
Did your father’s lack of interest in your music career propel your motivation to win?
Yes, and even though I love music, I
felt one day there would be a change. I knew that one day, he would
relent and he actually did, I know he voted for me. He even called me to
wish me luck and I just pray he watched his baby win and he is proud to
have me as his daughter.
Do you think with $25,000, he is going to be very supportive now?
My dad has been supportive in other
areas of my life. He probably was not supportive of my music career
because he felt that music would delay certain things in my life.
How does your boyfriend feel about this?
He is happy, he has been voting for me and he said he watched my performance live.
Are you going to leave him now that you have $25,000?
Why should I leave him? He was there for
me before I even won the money. He knew me before I became somebody in
life, why should I leave him now that I have won the money? The money is
for me, him, my family and everybody.
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