K-Pop which has taken the world by storm had its own Zimbabwean experience recently when the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Zimbabwe hosted the 2022 K-Pop World Festival Zimbabwe Preliminaries.
It was a popish feeling at The Venue in Avondale when 22 individuals and teams went head to head after making it past the 40 plus first round online entrants.
The event is a special cultural event that showcases the Zimbabwean public’s talent in Korean pop singing and dancing and is one of the biggest events the Korean embassy hosts throughout the year.
The event proved that Korean Pop is a growing movement in Zimbabwe and its culture has been well received especially by the teenagers as they could be seen bumping to each and every song the contestants were performing.
Extreme Dreamers who performed to Move by TNX took first place after impressing judges, award-winning choreographer John Cole and Aldrian Harrison, the founder of the Zim Hip Hop Awards.
They were given $500 worth of a Samsung phone and a chance of being invited to join the 2022 Changwon K-pop World Festival in September together with the winners of other regional rounds.
Second Place went to Tanaka Nicole after giving a brilliant performance to Lisa’s La Lisa, she won $300 worth of a Samsung phone
In third place was Jaime Marr, whilst Ashley-Ann’s performance was adjudged Best Visual with Best Teamwork going to Team Mamero who danced to Butter by BTS, they all were gifted $200 worth of a Samsung phone.
In his remarks, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Zimbabwe His Excellency DO Bong-kae narrated the origins of K-Pop and what makes it so relatable to most cultures.
“I believe K-pop has originated from the Korean traditional culture’s unique characteristics of ‘heung.’
“The Korean word, ‘heung’ implies joy and rhythm and it may similarly mean ‘fun’ in the English word. But I think ‘heung’ has a much deeper meaning. When you enjoy music in a group and get into the rhythm, a strong bond is formed between people,” he said.
“A Korean cultural analyst said ‘the common thread that binds fans together has led to a pop celebrity culture in Korea that dominates the music scene.”
He added that this was the reason why even in Zimbabwe, the youth are able to experience and enjoy K-pop as they copy the dance moves of the popular artists such as BTS, Black Pink and others.
“It is my firm belief that the ‘heung’ element is embedded in the DNA of Africans, indeed the Zimbabwean people who enjoy singing and dancing in their daily life,” said The Ambassador.
Extreme Dreamers PIC: 3-mob.com
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