Recently, Lagos hosted the 2024 edition of K-Pop Festival. It was amazing to watch 25 participants singing Korean music and dancing to it.

With optimism among the contestants, Macwhitney Myles sang Meet you among them by Kim Ho Joong, while Adubiaro Tobi Wale danced to On by BTS. Also, Amarachchi Doris Amushi sang Love is the moment by Lee Chang Min, with Team Blaze dancing to Back door by Stray Kids and Mari sang Smart by Le Sserafim.

Others were, De Generals, who danced to Magic by TXT, Bolakale Aanuoluwapo who sang Breaking down by Ailee, Femme Force danced to o.o by Nmixx, Iheanacho Chidera Caleb danced to Sweet venom by Enhyphen, the rest of the performers did same in the genre of choice.

After about two hours of electrifying performances, Victory Mbagwu, who sang I will go to you like the first snow by Ailee won the first prize of N400,000 and a television set by LG and Xmob who danced to Lalalala by Straykids won the first prize of N7000,000 and a television.

An excited Mbagwu, who is also a writer, said her love for Korean movies began when her sister, who schooled in Malaysia introduced her to it, she discovered that their story telling style matched hers and as she began watching their movies, she also fell in love with the music.

Xmob, a group united by passion, came all the way from Port Harcourt for the contest.

Spokesperson for the group, Adufo Raphel Chinemerem, simply said, “We give God all the glory because the journey has been stressful. Even our coming here from Port Harcourt was not easy but at the end of the day, we are happy that our efforts paid off.”

This group, alongside other teams that passed the preliminary rounds, will advance to the finals, holding in Changwon, Korea.

The Consul General, Lagos Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Mr Lee Sangho, acknowledge the unique potential, talents and the artistry of the Nigeria youth, especially their exceptional passion for dance and music, which is recognised globally.

According to Sangho, “I believe this has resulted in Nigerian musicians constantly creating popular sensational music with global acclaim.”

Sangho hopes that having held the festival in Lagos for the second consecutive year, more of such Korean Waves culture event will be held in Lagos in the future, “as Lagos is evolving into a mega city and the cultural exchange between Korea and Nigeria is becoming more active and exhilarating.”

According to him, “In this context, in the future, the Korean Embassy and the Korean Cultural Center in Nigeria (KCCN) in Abuja as well as the Lagos Office of the Korean Embassy will establish a network and collaborate with the K-Pop World Festival Nigeria winners to hold a K-Pop concert in Nigeria.