Is this the end of Tusker talent show?

The future of the region’s biggest reality show remains unclear with reports that East African Breweries Limited (EABL) may be considering ending their six-year sponsorship.

Tusker Project Fame (TPF), which is relayed in reality show format, pits a number of contestants from East Africa against each other. Every week, they are trained in singing, performance and presentation, while audiences and judges are tasked with voting out those performers who do not seem to progress in their lessons each week.

EABL did not immediately provide an official comment, but a manager, who requested anonymity, was non-committal. 

“At the moment, I’m not in a position to confirm or deny those rumours. What I can tell you is that the company is planning the new financial year, and it shall be decided whether the sponsorship will go on or not,” said the official.

The big question is, should Tusker go ahead and close the door on this reality show?

Popular TPF judge Ian Mbugua says that he would not be surprised if Tusker pulled out of the reality show.

“I have been a TPF judge since it started,” says Mbugua. “The way things have been going of late, I feel it is about time for Tusker to step back and re-evaluate the reality show, and see where they have been going wrong.”

He agrees that while TPF is a brilliant idea, the end result is not. “The outcome, after all those years, is not satisfactory at all.”

David Muriithi, who was a judge during the first season of TPF, looks at it differently.

“Other than the loss of that aspirational value that many upcoming musicians have every year, lots of suppliers and jobs will be on the losing end too,” says Muriithi.