Wonder woman
Even though Omawumi did not win the title in 2007, her career trajectory has been no less impressive. Where America has the likes of Adam Lambert, Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson, Nigeria can celebrate Omawumi Megbele as one of those people who used the Idols platform as a platform to bigger and better things despite not winning the title.
In 2007, Omawumi was ejected into an industry that was still finding itself. At the time, 2face was big, P-Square was big and Paul Play Dairo was still a major deal. Asa had put out a magnificent debut album and Weird MC was still coasting on the success of her Ijoya single. But generally, for females playing at music’s highest levels, it was a pretty bleak affair. Where Asa and the weird one had returned from sojourns abroad, there was a dearth of home grown females existing alongside the male pop stars being churned out in their numbers.
Omawumi’s arrival changed all that. That she was able to breakout at all was an accomplishment in itself, a story of tenacity and determination despite the odds. For she left the comfort of the Idols confinement at a double disadvantage; as an untested female and without the record deal promised to the eventual winner. But for a person born with the grit and persistence of Omawumi, such limitations were only stumbling blocks to be conquered.
Post Idols, while her peers, including Mr Dakolo were still finding their feet, Omawumi had already hit the ground running with her Cobhams Asuquo produced debut single, In the music, a Kwaito infused high energy pop ditty that announced her presence. A second single, Today na today followed and by 2010, she had released her debut album, Wonder woman, an interesting mishmash of pop, reggae, R&B and traditional highlife.
With Wonder woman, Omawumi did not just drop an album for the sake of dropping one. With its instant replay qualities, all of the songs told a different story and any one of them could stand alone as a hit single. Apparently, she had done her homework well and carefully studied what works for the local pop scene. Visually she maintained the sexy but not slutty appeal that ensured she appeared easy on the eye. The success of her singles and album ensured she was a permanent fixture on the concert circuit, sometimes as the only female in a sea of men.
