Winning the inaugural edition of MTN’s Next Afrobeats Star was a defining moment for Ayo Benzi, but for the Season One champion, the competition was only the beginning. Months after his victory, the singer has continued to build momentum, growing his audience across streaming platforms, releasing new music and proving that NAS’ impact extends well beyond the competition.
Reflecting on his journey, Benzi says the progress has reinforced his belief that consistency and hard work always pay off. “The numbers don’t lie. We’ve achieved milestones in less than a year. We are not there yet, but now there’s proof that if you keep working hard, you’ll definitely get results,” he said.
Since winning the competition, Benzi has released hi EP and seen his music attract close to half a million streams across digital platforms. While encouraged by the growth, he says the greatest reward has been seeing more people connect with his music.
“It’s not just about the numbers,” he said. “People are connecting with my music. Every new listener is proof that the work is paying off.”
Although MTN’s Next Afrobeats Star marked his biggest breakthrough, Benzi says the experience built on lessons from earlier opportunities, including his victory at the 2023 Omoluabi Music Competition, which prepared him for a bigger stage.
“After winning that competition, I thought everything was going to happen from there. Now I realise it was preparing me and showing me there was still more I could achieve,” he said.
As the inaugural winner of MTN’s Next Afrobeats Star, Benzi is mindful that future contestants will be measured against those who came before them. Rather than seeing that as pressure, he views it as a motivation to keep raising the bar.
“There will always be another winner after me. People will look at previous winners, so I have to keep working. I want people to look at my journey and say, ‘Wow, it’s worth it,’” he said.
As MTN’s Next Afrobeats Star returns for a second season, Benzi hopes his journey will inspire a new generation of aspiring artistes to seize the opportunities the platform offers.
MTN’s Next Afrobeats Star continues to provide emerging artists with a platform to showcase their talent, mentorship, gain industry exposure and accelerate their careers. As Season Two gets underway, a new generation of aspiring musicians will have the opportunity to follow in Benzi’s footsteps and transform their passion into lasting success.
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