The veteran Kenyan writer, Ngugi Wa Tiongo, once declared that – The beautiful Ones Are Not yet born. Someone should tell him that those who easily combine beauty and prowess are here already. Nigeria’s Ruti Olajugbagbe is an example. The 18-year old has won the 2018 Edition of The Voice UK and was crowned winner on Saturday night beating runner-up Donel Mangena.
While Ruti was the second favourite to win The Voice 2018, she fought off stiff competition from the other finalists to clinch the prize. She emerged champion after three incredible performances, with her final song, Dreams, by The Cranberries, which is soon to be released as her debut single.
Earlier in the show, she was joined by Coach Tom Jones to sing Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World. This was followed by her version of Daniel Bedingfield’s, If You’re Not The One.
Ruti, who won the £100,000 prize money, as well as a deal with Republic Records, is a student and part-time nurse for a family friend.
The teenage prodigy, who attends Youth Creation Performing Arts School in Stanford-le-Hope, lives with her mum, dad and little brother, Femi. Her first single became available as soon as the Voice final ended last Saturday.
