X-FACTOR: DJ SWITCH WINS GLO’S N24M, SONY MUSIC DEAL

Sensational rapper Obianuju Catherine Udeh, popularly known as DJ Switch, has been crowned Africa’s first X-Factor winner. 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. Before 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. *DJ Switch collecting her

cheque 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. “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.” DJ Switch came up next, and 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.” Eshun was the next to perform, and she pulled out all the stops as she shimmered in her green attire. Then the climax! The contestants held hands together as they anticipated the results that would change the lives of one of them forever. 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.