By Damilola Adeyera
Today is not Thursday. It is, however, a good time to take a journey down memory lane.
Genevieve Nnaji was the camp commandant. The Gulder Ultimate Search “Celebrity Showdown” began on April 28, 2010. The thrilling adventure, which ran for 35 days, was held on the expansive natural grounds of La Campagne Tropicana Beach & Forest Resort, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
The celebrity showdown featured 10 Nigerian celebrities from the entertainment industry. Namely: Emeka Ike, Daddy Showkey, Darey Art Alade, Abass Akande Obesere, Muma Gee, Funke Akindele, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Princess Comedienne, Chioma Chukwuka and Weird MC.
Funke Akindele became the first contestant to be evicted after breaking a stance rule during a drill. She was followed by Bob-Manuel Udokwu, who was evicted due to his failure to “fix-the-bits” during a puzzle task. The next eviction saw two contestants get evicted. Chioma Chukwuka & Muma Gee were evicted on the same day after failing their respective tasks.
Weird MC earned the title of being the “last woman standing” following her eviction. Then Darey Art Alade was evicted before the final leg of the adventurous competition, leaving Daddy Showkey and Emeka Ike to battle it out at the final.
Eventually, Daddy Showkey was evicted right before the ultimate search. This left Emeka Ike to be the only contestant in search of the Golden Goblet. He found the treasure hidden underneath a tree within the natural environment of La Campagne Tropicana Beach & Forest resort. Emeka Ike was declared the winner.
Emeka Ike won N7.5 million and a jeep.
The iconic reality television show was not without drama. The tabloids and news media at that time described the feud between Chioma Chuwuka and Muma Gee as the most toxic rivalry of the season. Funny thing is, both celebrities were roommates, yet they clashed with each other daily. Things took a sour turn when Chioma physically threw Muma Gee’s belongings out of their shared tent and openly insulted Muma Gee’s marital status.
Another controversy worth remembering is the axe-throwing betrayal. This scenario occurred during a critical elimination task. Contestants had to throw axes to break pots belonging to rivals. This led to a bitter blowout between Daddy Showkey and Obesere, with the latter declaring “never to trust anyone again” after Daddy Showkey, whom he considered his friend, collaborated with Emeka Ike and Darey to smash his pots.
The drama didn’t end there. Emeka Ike was heavily criticized by viewers for his tears and behavior. He was particularly emotional when Muma Gee was evicted. He cried. His tears elicited public criticism.
Weird MC also had her fair share of controversy when she fiercely rebelled against her male counterparts who considered her to take charge of the camp cooking since she was the last woman standing. A notion she blatantly rejected and termed “chauvinistic”.
Every week, viewers watched contestants trek through dense forests, navigate swamps, solve difficult tasks, and battle the elements in pursuit of glory and the coveted grand prize.
It was physically demanding, mentally exhausting and unlike anything Nigerian television had witnessed before. What many people may not remember, however, is that one of the homes of this iconic reality television show was La Campagne Tropicana Beach & Forest Resort, Ibeju-Lekki.
