King Enakpodia honoured as Delta Indigenous Musician of the Year

In a vibrant celebration of cultural heritage and musical distinction, top Nigerian musician, King Enakpodia, has been bestowed with the Delta Role Model Award, earning the prestigious title of Delta Indigenous Musician of the Year. The award, presented on November 8, 2024, recognized the outstanding contributions of King Enakpodia to the preservation and modernization of Urhobo traditional music, further establishing him as a cultural icon and a beacon of indigenous artistry in the Niger Delta region.

This latest honur crowns a series of accomplishments that have defined King Enakpodia’s career as a custodian of Urhobo heritage.

Celebrating Urhobo Culture in Lagos: A Landmark Edition

Recall that earlier in the year, King Enakpodia hosted and headlined the Urhobo Village Meeting Victoria Island Lagos Edition, held on April 21, 2025, at Bature Brewery. The high network event was a vibrant showcase of Urhobo culture, drawing attendees from across Nigeria and the diaspora. Guests were treated to traditional music, dance, and comedy performances from some of Nigeria’s finest entertainers, including Alibaba, Gordons, and comedian Whalemouth, among others.

King Enakpodia expressed deep appreciation to all who came out to celebrate the rich Urhobo heritage, calling the event a great celebration and a significant cultural experience.

” The gathering not only entertained but also reaffirmed a collective pride in Urhobo identity, values, and traditions”, said King Enakpodia.

King Enakpodia’s innovation and artistic excellence were further recognized at the Urhobo Music Festival and Awards (UMFA) in 2023, where he won five major award categories, comprising Most Outstanding Innovative Urhobo Musician, Most Outstanding Urhobo Traditional Music Group, Urhobo Song of the Year , Money Talk by Efemoney featuring King Enakpodia, Urhobo Musician of the Year and Best Urhobo Music Album of the Year

In recognition of these feats, Festival organizers, @umfamusicfestivalandawards, commended King Enakpodia for his unwavering dedication to preserving and evolving Urhobo music through authentic, contemporary expression.

Academic and Industry Recognition

Way back in 2022, the National Union of Urhobo Students (UNIBEN/UBTH Chapter) honorued King Enakpodia with an Award of Honor, celebrating him as an Enigmatic Urhobo Highlife Music Icon. The ceremony, held on July 27, 2022, underscored the academic community’s respect for his cultural advocacy.

Previously, in 2021, he was recognized as Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Warri Entertainment and Recognition Award (#5thWERA The Icon Edition), further highlighting his influence in both traditional and contemporary music circles.

King Enakpodia’s music is more than performance it is a movement rooted in identity, language preservation, and community pride. Through the seamless fusion of traditional Urhobo rhythms with modern storytelling, he continues to inspire emerging indigenous artists across Nigeria and beyond.

As the accolades continue to pour in, King Enakpodia remains steadfast in his mission: to elevate Urhobo music and ensure its place on national and global stages.