CI Squad wins third K-Pop competition

The final, held at the main hall of the Women Development Centre, Abuja, Saturday, July 26th and featured professional dance crews from Jos, Benin, Lagos, Kaduna, and Abuja with half a dozen secondary school crews in a separate category.Speaking at the event, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Jong Hyun Choi said he is particularly […]

The final, held at the main hall of the Women Development Centre, Abuja, Saturday, July 26th and featured professional dance crews from Jos, Benin, Lagos, Kaduna, and Abuja with half a dozen secondary school crews in a separate category.
Speaking at the event, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Jong Hyun Choi said he is particularly proud of the K-Pop contest since it was initiated under his watch in 2012, describing it as a cultural initiative that can serve as, “a medium for dialogue between peoples of different nationality, race, language and religion.”
He emphasised that the embassy is committed to continuing with the project in years to come as Nigeria’s young people are “dynamic and fun-loving.”
He encouraged the participants to take K-Pop to a new level by adding Nigerian flavour and character.
Eager to put these words into effect, the contestants took to the stage with gusto and grace. Starting from the secondary school category, the teenagers worked hard to outdo the Korean K-Pop crew they were imitating with varying degrees of success. They brought their own initiatives into the costumes and dance moves and in the end the results were a delight to the packed hall.
The six crew from six secondary schools made way for the professionals, some of them coming from far and wide, their costumes more elaborate, their steps more coordinated, and the competition more intense.
At the end, it took the judges longer to come out with the results. While the waiting was on, the previous winners of the competition, Elevatorz, winners in 2012, and Idez, the all-girl group that won in 2013, had time for separate and joint performances.
Eventually, the results were ready with winners set to cart away Samsung branded products and cash rewards. In the secondary school category, GSS Bwari Central came thirds with GSS Gwagwalada emerging runners up. The top prize went to the four-girl crew of GSS Gwagwalada Girls.
In the professional category, Supermehn from Lagos were visibly disappointed to have come 5th, while Kaduna based T-Sod came 4th. In third place were the boys from Jos, The Fly High Crew. Abuja based Pacific, which had earlier performed to thunderous applause from their supporters could only manage 2nd place with the grand prize going to CI Squad from Asaba.
The winners will now proceed to Korea to participate in the world K-Pop Festival and hope to surpass the 3rd place finish of the Elevatorz in that competition.
Speaking after the event, the director of the Korean Cultural Centre, Mr. Kwon Yong – IK praised the participants for the competitive spirit they exhibited. He said their effort at expanding the competition has proven fruitful with more participants coming from other cities.