…Unveils ₦65 Million Grand Prize

By Benjamin Njoku

De9jaspirit Talent Hunt (DTH) has been transforming the Nigerian entertainment landscape for four (4) seasons, creating enormous opportunities for talented Nigerians. Additionally, the show has continually increased its prize offerings while expanding its audience across Africa and beyond.

This consistent growth is a testament to DTH’s commitment to delivering electrifying performances and life-changing opportunities. In 2026, DTH is set to roll out Season 5 with a record-breaking ₦65 million prize package—₦50million Naira for winner, ₦10million Naira and ₦5million Naira for the 1st and 2nd runner respectively. As a talented Nigerian youth, DTH Season 5 is your opportunity to showcase your gift on one of Africa’s fastest-growing entertainment platforms.

In its inaugural season, De9jaspirit Talent Hunt welcomed a wide range of talents, including singing, contortion, magic, comedy, choreography, and more. At the time, viewers had seen nothing quite like it, as each performance captivated audiences in its own unique way. Season 1 saw the emergence of singer Miss Constance Olatunde as the winner of the competition, earning a ₦10 million cash prize. The Chrysolite Crew, a choreography group, and Emmanuel Ikebudu (AKA Slim Saint), a comedian, emerged as the first and second runners-up, winning ₦3 million and ₦2 million cash prizes respectively.

The release of Miss Constance Olatunde’s debut single, Believe, and her acting debut in the movie From Dust to Dreams are testaments to the transformative power of DTH in providing opportunities, recognition, and career advancement for young Nigerian talents.

DTH Season 2 was a blockbuster, with netizens constantly discussing standout performances from singers, dance groups, comedians, and magicians. While the race to the grand finale was intense, several contestants advanced through a combination of audience votes and judges’ contributions. The grand finale saw gospel singer Ugee Royalty (Esther Ugochi Kalu) emerge as the winner, earning a ₦7 million cash prize alongside an all-expense-paid trip to Kenya and Dubai.

Additionally, Ibquake (Ibukunoluwa Oluwaseun), a spoken word artist, and Masterseb Comedian (Bassey Stephen Ernest) emerged as the first and second runners-up, earning ₦3 million and ₦2 million in cash prizes respectively. Beyond these rewards, DTH introduced a ₦300,000 cash prize for Best Weekly Performance, creating more opportunities for contestants to win throughout the season.

As a testament to the significant role DTH plays in creating opportunities for talented Nigerians, Ugee Royalty has released more than ten tracks since her historic victory. With such an outstanding achievement, the impact of DTH on the lives and careers of contestants and runners-up cannot be underestimated.

Season 3 marked a major breakthrough for contestants, as DTH attracted more global attention than ever before. While the show continued to award ₦300,000 for Best Weekly Performance, its live shows at the Cultural Centre, Calabar, attracted more than 3,000 attendees, while over 5,000 people gathered to witness the grand finale.

Furthermore, internationally celebrated entertainers such as Taraji P. Henson, the award-winning American actress and entrepreneur, and Chris Brown, the American singer, songwriter, and dancer, shared videos of DTH performances. The list also included Diamond Platnumz, one of Africa’s biggest musicians and among the continent’s most-followed artists on social media, as well as P-Square, one of Africa’s most successful music groups.

These reposts gave contestants unprecedented exposure to tens of millions of international viewers, significantly increasing their social media engagement while enhancing the visibility of the show. Among the contestants whose performances were shared by international entertainers was The Exoduz Dance Crew, whose performances were reposted by both Taraji P. Henson and Diamond Platnumz. Similarly, Chris Brown shared a performance by Clouded Moves, while Tiffany Haddish, the American actress and comedian, shared a performance by The Exoduz Dance Crew and subsequently followed the official DTH Instagram account.

This historic season saw DTH achieve a multi-million audience across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

The grand finale saw The Exoduz Dance Crew emerge as the overall winners. The group, made up of Godluck Imeh Thomas, John Joseph Akpan, and young Chikambo Annabel Obioma, became crowd favourites and attracted international attention through their outstanding performances. They were awarded a ₦10 million cash prize, a trip to Kenya and the Maldives, and a brand-new car.

Meanwhile, Molleythevibe (Bisiryu Abraham Adeyemo) and Promise Effiong emerged as the first and second runners-up, earning ₦3 million and ₦2 million cash prizes respectively.

In Season 4, DTH eliminated registration fees and embarked on its first-ever Campus Audition Tour across major Nigerian universities. The significance of this initiative was that it reduced the cost of travelling for auditions and enabled DTH to directly engage with Nigeria’s vibrant talent ecosystem.

This edition saw spoken word artist TheGlobalPoet (Deborah Johnson) dominate the competition with her storytelling-driven poetry, as well as multiple appearances as Best Weekly Performer, earning the ₦500,000 cash prize several times. Her stage battle (showdown) with Paskal garnered millions of views across Facebook and Twitter, becoming one of the most talked-about performances of Season 4.

Furthermore, 13-year-old saxophonist Jeremiah FJ Sax emerged as the first runner-up. His unique blend of gospel, jazz, and contemporary Nigerian sounds earned widespread praise from both audiences and judges, resulting in a ₦7 million cash award.

Additionally, the visually impaired singer Chris Vic emerged as the second runner-up. He gained admiration for his inspiring life story, which was reflected in his music and particularly evident in his emotionally charged gospel performances. Several of his performances attracted millions of views and likes across Facebook and TikTok. His collaboration with Team Unbeatable DC generated over 12 million views and 1.5 million likes on TikTok, helping to establish DTH as a social-media-first talent ecosystem and not merely television content.

As a talented youth, it is now time to seize the opportunity that Season 5 presents. Showcase your talent to the world, earn multiple cash rewards, and gain recognition from internationally acclaimed entertainers. Through DTH Season 5, you stand the chance of attracting a massive social media following and significant attention from commercial brands and opportunities.

Season 5 is expected to be another blockbuster. This season, the overall winner stands a chance of receiving a ₦50 million cash prize, representing a ₦20 million increase from the previous season. Meanwhile, the first and second runners-up stand to earn ₦10 million and ₦5 million respectively. In addition, ₦1 million will be awarded for Best Weekly Performance, representing a 100% increase from the previous season.

Registration for the show opens on June 22, 2026, and participation is completely free. Registration is open to all talents regardless of age or gender. As a talented youth, ensure you save the registration date because by registering, you stand a chance of becoming another Constance Olatunde, Ugee Royalty, TheGlobalPoet, or even a more successful version of yourself.

It is important to note the publicity, exposure, and social media recognition that await participants, including the possibility of having performances shared by some of the world’s most successful entertainers. Registering for Season 5 is a step worth taking, as millions of viewers across Africa and beyond eagerly anticipate your breathtaking performances, collaborations, and unforgettable stage battles.