She’s Korean, lives in Birmingham, and spins Afrobeats and Amapiano for a living. And after a tour of Nigeria, DJ Jinseoul has declared Cross River state her favourite spot in the country NEGROIDHAVEN has garnered.
Not Lagos, the so-called entertainment capital. Not Abuja, the sleek federal capital. Not Enugu, with its rolling hills and coal city charm.
Cross River.
The DJ, who goes by @jinseoulmusic online and commands over 891,000 followers, took to Facebook within the week to drop her personal ranking of Nigerian subnational entities. Each one, she said, gave her a different experience.
“Some challenged me, some healed me, some surprised me,” she wrote. “Despite all the struggles, Nigeria has a special place in my heart ❤️”
Then came the list.
The ranking that raised eyebrows
At number 10: Lagos. She gave it “best night life” – a nod to the city that never sleeps. But overall, it came last.
Then Rivers (most rainy), Bauchi (best wildlife), Enugu (most peaceful), Abuja (most convenient), Akwa Ibom (most clean), Kaduna (most cultural), Plateau (best weather), Kano (most friendly).
And at number one? Cross River.
Her verdict for the state that hosts the Carnival Calabar and the Obudu Cattle Ranch/Mountain Resort? “Most beautiful.”
She even shared a separate video post, simply captioned: “Cross River is my number 1 state…”
Who is this DJ?
For the uninitiated, DJ Jinseoul is not your typical foreign tourist. She’s a South Korean disc jockey based in the United Kingdom, but her sound is deeply West African – Afrobeats and Amapiano run through her sets like palm wine through a Calabar party.
Her bio reads like a modern globalisation story: Korean by birth, British by base, African by musical soul.
She’s also promoting an “African Village Tour” – link in bio – suggesting that Nigeria was just one stop on a larger mission to connect with the continent.
Why this matters (beyond the clicks)
On one level, it’s just one person’s opinion. A traveller’s Instagram-style listicle.
But on another level, it’s free marketing that Nigerian tourism boards could only dream of buying. A foreign influencer with nearly a million followers telling the world that Cross River is beautiful, that Kano is friendly, that Plateau has the best weather.
No press release. No jingle. Just a DJ and her honest take.
And Lagos? Well…
Lagosians might feel a certain way about coming 10th. But read her caption again: “Some challenged me.” Maybe Lagos was that challenge. The hustle. The traffic. The beautiful chaos.
She still gave the city props for its nightlife – and coming from a DJ who plays clubs in the UK, that’s not nothing.
What happens next?
As of press time, no official reaction from the Cross River State government. But you can bet the state’s tourism promoters are quietly smiling.
Meanwhile, fans have flooded her comment section with invitations to visit their own states. “Come to Bayelsa!” “You missed Ondo!” “Abia is waiting for you!”
One enthusiastic follower wrote: “She knows more about Nigeria than some Nigerians.”
That might be a stretch. But one thing is clear: DJ Jinseoul is leaving Nigeria with more than just souvenirs. She will leave with a ranked list, a grateful heart, and a new favourite state.
Cross River 1 – 0 Lagos.
