The 29-year-old geology graduate of the
University of Port Harcourt and native of
Udi, Enugu State, was declared winner at
the grand finale of the show held at
Dream Studios, Bamako Street, Omole,
Lagos. She beat the two other finalists
Ethel Eshun and Vicky Gomoti in the last
round of voting to win Globacom’s N24
million cash prize and a recording
contract with Sony Music. Continue...
B efore the announcement of the results,
the expectation of audience, judges and
contestants alike had built to a crescendo
as everybody waited anxiously to find out
who the first X Factor winner in Africa
would be.
The suspense was to last even longer as
Glo ambassador from Ghana, Efya, came
on stage for a wonderful performance
that had the audience applauding
rapturously. After her performance, X
Factor host, Toolz, turned to the judges
and sought to know how they felt about
the night.
Reggie answered first, “I’m so excited
that I brought my wife with me so we can
both be excited together. It’s been a
beautiful journey; I can’t wait to see who
will walk away with the money.”
According to MI, “It’s been incredible.
The crew, my fellow judges and the
contestants have all been wonderful.”
Toolz asked Onyeka, “Who do you think
will be the winner tonight?”
Onyeka answered with a smile, “I was so
excited, I brought my Bible along with
me. At this stage, I think the last three
contestants have all won.”
Shortly afterwards, 2008 UK X Factor
winner, delectable Alexandra Burke, got
the hall on its feet with a resounding
applause for a great performance of her
hit track, Halleluyah. She was later joined
on stage
by the three finalists, DJ Switch, Eshun
and Vicky as they all spectacularly
chorused the song together.
“Shake” and “Ada Ada” crooner, Flavour,
came onstage next to thrill guests with a
scintillating performance. He proved why
he was a crowd favourite as the audience
rose to their feet to dance along with
him. After Flavour’s performance, the
contestants came out to sing the songs
they sang at the audition stage.
Vicky led the performances, and she got a
standing ovation from the three judges.
“How did your daughter perform?” Toolz
inquired of Onyeka. “She has grown from
a pupa to a butterfly. She sang with
confidence and inner joy. I had goose
pimples just listening to her. I have no
doubt that she’ll make it. May God bless
you.”
Reggie added, “You just proved to us that
our work has not been in vain,” while MI
said, “Wow, Vicky is just so amazing. You
are absolutely stunning. The way you’re
radiating joy; don’t keep it to yourself,
please, share it with the world.”
DJ Switch came up next, garbed in a tight
black trouser with black top to match. Her
entry engendered a boisterous response
from the crowd with her performance of
Jay Z’s “Forever Young,” which was heavily
spiced up with raps. In a mild drama, the
contestant switched over backwards,
precariously clutching the mic as she
raps. Her stagecraft even drew a wider
applause when she stepped down the
stage to hug her mother, while still
singing without losing concentration.
Reacting to her performance, MI said,
“Switch, people scream when you
perform because you inspire us all. When
you came for the audition, I felt you tried.
I had already made up my mind that you
wouldn’t make
it to my final three mentees, but you
changed my mind. Everybody here needs
to know that no matter what people say
about you, it doesn’t matter as long as
you fight.” he concluded. Reggie gushed,
“DJ Switch, you are inspirational; you
excite me. My children love you;
everybody loves you!” As for Onyeka, she
opined, “Unlike the other judges, the
moment you stepped on stage, I knew
you had it.”
When asked why she should win the X
Factor, Switch simply said: “I work hard; I
pray hard.”
Eshun was the next to perform, and she
pulled out all the stops as she
shimmered in her green attire. “One of
the best things on this program is that I
got to mentor Vicky and Eshun. She is
exquisite, beautiful, gorgeous and
talented. She walks onto the stage and
lights it up. You have something that is
very special. No matter what happens
here, youhave me permanently in your
camp. You will take the world by storm!”
Onyeka declared.
MI said, “You are a perfect example of
what this show is all about. You
epitomises everything X Factor stands for.
You’ve been one of my favourites.” Her
Ghanaian compatriot, Reggie, said, “My
story with my sister is different. We come
from the same place and people expect
me to give her a pass. It often seems as if
I’m tough on you, but look at where you
stand now. You have done well!”
On why she thinks she should win the
competition, Eshun said, “The potter in
the Bible goes around looking for clay to
mold them into the type of pots that he
wants. X Factor came looking for me;
found me and I am glad. These past
weeks, I have gone through moulding,
and now, I’m ready.”
Then the climax! The contestants held
hands together as they anticipated the
results that would change the lives of one
of them forever.
As Toolz invited the representative from
Alexandra Forbes to the stage, she
lingered a bit, teasing the audience as
she twirled the green envelope
containing the results in her hands.
“The first winner of the Glo X Factor West
Africa is DJ Switch!” she announced as the
crowd erupted in jubilation.
“How do you feel?” Toolz asked Eshum.
She answered, “Fortunately, the Lord did
what He wanted to do, and I’m happy for
that.”
Vicky said, “I want to thank Glo for this
platform, and I think DJ Switch deserved
to win.”
Thereafter, DJ Switch performed her
single, “Safe Landing” which is billed for
release next week.
The first runner-up was Eshun and she
got the sum of N1m for her efforts, while
Vicky, the second runner-up, also got
N1m.
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