Mary Obidudu, Kingsmen triumph at 2026 Nigeria K-Pop Festival

By Damiete Braide Mary Isibhakome Obidudu and dance crew, The Kingsmen, emerged winners of the singing and dance categories respectively at the 2026 K-Pop Festival held in Lagos, with both acts earning the opportunity to be nominated for the K-Pop World Festival in Changwon, South Korea. Organised by the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN), the annual festival celebrated the passion, talent and creativity of K-pop enthusiasts across the country. Returning to Lagos after the 2025 edition in Abuja, the event attracted some of Nigeria’s leading K-pop dance crews, singers and fans. The competition featured 18 finalists, comprising 10 dance teams and eight singers, who qualified through a rigorous selection process. Contestants in the dance category were judged on choreography, composition, synchronisation, expression and stage charisma, while vocalists were assessed on vocal ability, lyrical accuracy, expression and stage presence.