In a political climate like ours, wouldn't it be lovely to see Reggie N Bollie win the X Factor final?

Led by Reggie N Bollie, my cousin's kids have been Whipping, Nae-Nae-ing and Azontoing in their front room, proud to have a shared cultural connection with the duo

The X Factor team

Even if you haven’t been watching the show, you’re likely to have heard of Reggie N Bollie, the "novelty act" of this year’s X Factor series who have been mentored by Cheryl Fernandez-Versini. Novelty they may have been labelled, but they may just have the last laugh: they have made it to the final and stand a great chance of being crowned this year’s winners.

So what is their appeal? Apart from bringing pure delight and infectious entertainment to the show, they have shone a spotlight on the Afrobeats genre. They have grabbed the attention of even little kids - including my cousin’s children Ronelle and Nigel, nine and seven respectively. Led by Reggie N Bollie, these kids have been Whipping, Nae-Nae-ing and Azontoing in their front room, proud to have a shared cultural connection with the duo.

Formally known as Menn on Poinnt, these two are proud Ghanaian men who have used every opportunity to show off their heritage. It’s made a great visual change seeing African print outfits during their energetic performances.

I suspect another reason for their appeal is that they inject a refreshing change. They are truly memorable, and distinct from the usual suspects who win, charge the Christmas charts and are soon forgotten in the new year. Reggie N Bollie can’t be accused of being forgettable. Their energy is catching - they’ve even persuaded the ever poised Cheryl to do the Azonto on national TV.

As a British-born Ghanaian I take pride in this increasing change. Africans have long played a huge part in shaping British culture and the arts - in recent times you’ll have heard of Idris Elba, June Sarpong, Reggie Yates, Tinchy Stryder, but the list is far greater than I can reproduce here. Reggie N Bollie themselves have been living in the UK for the past five years, and it’s heartwarming to see them so readily embraced by a country where racial tensions are supposed to be higher than ever.

As a singer, I find it encouraging to see this break from tradition on a show like the X Factor. It’s far more representative of the London I live in and it creates new artistic possibilities. Many detractors have wondered why the duo have come so far, arguing X Factor is a singing competition which should be won by the person best qualified to carry a tune. I beg to differ; and the clue is in the name.

The X Factor is about that unknown element that brings a performance alive. It’s an entertainment show, rather than a strictly voice-propelled competition. The audition process reflects this, which is why it seems far more like a casting than a choir recital.

As a participant, you are expected to prove why you can excite an audience, rather than merely how accurately you can hit the right notes in a song; this is not a show based on vocal ability alone. My own experience in vocal and performance coaching means that I know of very talented singers who were turned away at the initial stages precisely because exceptional vocals are not enough.

So what will happen in the final tonight? The singer in me thinks that Louisa Johnson has shown technical brilliance and would make a worthy winner – just as I thought about Che Chesterman. The Ghanaian in me, however, says diversity is something we should make a special effort to celebrate in the current climate. And that is something we can put to the test tonight, when Reggie N Bollie – hopefully – win the X Factor crown.

Rebecca Amissah is founder of Gospel Essence, the a cappella gospel style choir which was recently featured on Gareth Malone’s The Naked Choir