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The search for Africa�s first X Factor singer will come to an end on September 17. That day, the winner of Globacom�s $150,000-prize money and Sony Music�s recording contract will be announced at a high profile event in Lagos. X Factor is the world�s biggest singing reality TV show, and it berthed in Africa for the first time on the shores of Nigeria, courtesy of national operator, Globacom. The prize package is considered outstanding as the cash prize is the biggest offered by any singing reality show in Africa, while the Sony Music recording deal is the first express commitment to a recording contract for the winner of a singing reality show by a major recording label. Globacom said in a statement in Lagos that the grand finale will be attended by high profile personalities, including corporate executives and the cr�me of Nigeria�s entertainment industry. The company added that top Nigerian and international musicians have been scheduled to perform at the event. The Glo X Factor show reached a high point on July 23 when the Top 9 contestants who qualified for the finals were unveiled. Since then, three acts have been evicted from the show with the fourth evictee scheduled to leave on Friday. The six contestants left in the show include Ghana�s Eshun and Symphony. From Nigeria are Princess Pat, DJ Switch, Vicky and Pheel. Followers of the show believe any of the acts can win the top prize as the Top 9 contestants are rated as some of the best singers ever to participate in a singing reality show in Nigeria. In addition to the huge cash prize and recording contract, the winner of the show is also on the way to becoming an international music star, Globacom said. Director of African A & R at Sony Music Entertainment Africa, Spiro Damaskinos, said during his visit to Nigeria early August that the company would put all its channels which had churned out international megastars such as Beyonce, Chris Brown, Britney Spears and Alicia Keys at the disposal of the winner to take him/her to the next level. �Sony has extensive marketing roots including shows, radios, television, videos and so on, and we will help the winner tap into these channels and into our rich family and resources to become a successful international musician,� Damaskinos affirmed. He expressed satisfaction with the talent on display on the show, saying they could compete effectively at the international level. �I am very impressed. I have observed a wide range of talents and fantastic level of artistry and diversity, and I believe that as we get into the second and third editions, it will become even better,� he noted.