All appears set for the biggest annual event in the State, the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival 2017,which debuted in 2008 with 9,300 carols singers.
December 22, 2017 would herald the 10th edition of this epochal event which has won for the State global recognition and acclaim. The event which is always beamed live via satellite broadcast is known to draw viewership of millions of Christian worshippers and even non Christians all over the globe largely on account of its evangelism and entertainment values.
The scripture asserts that God inhabits the praise of His people. The deduction is that God relishes praise and rightly so. It has been widely posited and yet to be contradicted that the only reason God created man (woman is subsumed in the masculine gender) is for man to praise and worship Him. Examples abound of those who unraveled the wisdom of praising God and the blessings that segue such feat. The Holy Book records David as one man who understood the value of praising God and deployed it maximally. Many believe that devotion in thanksgiving and praise to God covered his many indiscretions before God who continued to accept him as His friend.
Praising God and thanksgiving seem to be the secret that one needs to know and implement to attract God’s blessings. At a secular level, people who demonstrate gratitude are often likely to have an edge in their pursuit than others who are known perpetually as lacking that spirit of being thankful. As a State, nothing can be more gracious and beneficent as having leaders who understand the spiritual import of thanksgiving and praising God and could galvanize the people to that act of faith. Fortunately for the State, the immediate past administration and the present are blessed with that wisdom and have reaped great benefits from worshipping and praising God.
The Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival aside from the spiritual benefits drawn from worshipping and praising God in commemoration of the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ also gives Akwa Ibom people opportunity to watch live, iconic gospel artistes from far countries of the world. Recall when Angela Christie, Don Moen, Donnie McClurkin and others debuted in the State and gave the people opportunity to feel their physical presence. These are legendary artistes they only used to read about or watch on television but the carols brought them to Akwa Ibom shores for them to behold. It has always been a spectacular experience.
The 2017 Carols Festival being the 10th edition would be a product of 9 years of cognate experience and under the supervision of Mr. Aniekpeno Mkpanang, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, a man known to have over the years evolved into an icon in event management. This edition would present a potpourri of gospel artistes from the indigenous to those from outside the State but within Nigeria and those from outside the shores of Nigeria. It is a collection of artistes with known trademarks of captivating and electrifying the audience.
Everything about the 2017 Carols Festival has been honed into optimum mode. The character of the event can be glimpsed from the Officiating Minister of the 2017 Akwa Ibom Carols Festival, Pastor Agu Irukwu. Agu is a graduate of law from the University of Warwick. He was ordained pastor in 1993 and is currently a Senior Pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jesus House United Kingdom. Irukwu’s voice would be the voice that would tear through that night to bring to the mammoth gathering the message that would no doubt consolidate our faith in our Lord and Saviour.
Some of the 2017 performing artistes at the Carols Festival may be familiar names that may have been heard or watched before but that can not erode the ecstatic performance they are all capable of delivering to the admiration of the audience. An instance is Ron Kenoly, who is returning as guest for the second time after 2014 to the event. The one time American Air Force Officer whose song “Lift Him Up” which debuted in 1992 became an instant success is a singer with stage presence that captivates the audience. Kenoly would be on hand for a song ministration that would elevate worshippers spiritually at that event.
Bob Fitts has been in song ministrations from the 1970s. A graduate of Christian Religion, Bob Fitts is the main guest artistes for this year’s Akwa Ibom Carols Festival. To also join to take worshippers and faithful to the throne of grace is Elsie Duncan-Williams Otoo whose vocal skills and anointing in song ministrations was discovered while a teenager. Elsie Otoo remains the first lady of Action Chapel, Alexandria, Virginia, USA to travel to various countries to minister in songs alongside her father, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams. She also serves in the ministry alongside her husband, Bishop Kibby Otoo.
The Akwa Ibom songbird, Amaikah who stated her singing career at the age of 6 and has grown into an enviable star with her strong vocals, stage presence and renowned song writing skills would be on hand to lead worshippers to that jubilant mood of fellowship with God. Nathaniel Bassey, a son of the soil who is doing exploits in the gospel music ministry from his base in Lagos would also join other artistes on December 22 to celebrate the 10th edition of Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival.
Progress Effiong, another Akwa Ibom son, the spirit behind “Amen”, currently enjoying the highest number of air play on both local and international radio and TV Stations would also join worshippers with his uniqueness in song delivery which is a blend of African and contemporary style.
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Rev. (Dr.) Ezekiel Umoh of “Ukpono Atata Ukpono” fame, that indigenous rendition that almost assumed the place of a Christian anthem, would also join other gospel artistes to make the night memorable. Rev. Umoh who has 28 albums to his credit and has received Awards in and outside the country would deliver his unique African style at the event to add spice to the array of performances. The Obot Akara born gospel artiste who was the first from the axis of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States to be recorded on celluloid would thrill the audience with his energetic dance steps and charismatic presence.
On hand to also give participants spiritual lifting would be the Lady with the golden voice, Eno Michael. Blessed with vocal dexterity, the mother of two is known to use her music to administer healing and restore hope to those in despair. An accountant and master’s degree holder in Finance, Eno a passionate worshipper is an anointed gospel singer, song writer with captivating stage presence.
Chris Shalom, whose song “Power Belongs to You” has been a rev of the time is billed to take the place by storm. The globally acclaimed music minister who has been widely described as the man with the golden voice would be live on Akcarolfest alongside others to bring down the Heavens on the land of Akwa Ibom and attract the blessings that go with such presence. The Kogi born worship leader who is a front liner in Christ Embassy would certainly add verve to the activities of December 22.
One man that would not fail to rouse participants and catapult them to spiritual crescendo is the Wamilele king, multi-talented Pastor Kingsley Ike. The Senior Pastor of Greenland Ministries International, Abuja is no stranger to praise and worship. The tight instrumentations that underline his songs, the unique style of rendition, his energetic dance steps and arresting stage presence are combinations that give Kingsley Ike the niche that makes him unique and a sought after. His presence at Akcarolfest would certainly be a big boost.
In the mix for December 22 is Jimmy Johnson, popularly known as Jimmy D’Psalmist Jimmy, a renowned praise and worship leader started his singing career at a very tender age but has today grown into a phenomenon with his audio album “Golden City” which was released in 2012. Jimmy D’Psalmist is currently serving God at Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja under the spiritual guidance of Pastor (Dr.) Paul Enenche. He is one of the gospel artistes that would thrill worshippers at the 2017 Akcarolfest.
David Ekene, a music and word minister is also billed to mount the stage to lead Worshippers to the throne of Grace with his songs. The Enugu born worship leader who grew up in Kano started his singing career at the age of 5 with Children’s Choir. A fourth Child in a family of five, he serves God with the Assemblies of God Church. David who graduated from the Theological Seminary also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English (Education) from the University of Abuja. His singing gift has given him a unique place in the gospel music industry and a schedule to perform at Akcarolfest on December 22.
The United Voices of Cameroon which is also the Cameroon National Choir has earned the selection to perform at the unique event-Akcarolfest. A collection of believers from various denominations under the motivating impulse of anointing, the group displays a desire to worship God as well as maximize its talent in the work of evangelism. The United Voices of Cameroon also highlights the African culture and the peculiarity of the Cameroonians way of worship.
On hand for performance on December 22 is Uyo Girls Choir. The group which evolved as an awareness platform for the empowerment of the girl-child is made up of 31 Uyo based Girls representing each local government area of the State. The initiative has character moulding, leadership training, sharpening of creative skills and rearing role models as cardinal objectives. Members of the group are also expected to embrace wholeheartedly the creed of the State which is rising to their faith of greatness. The Uyo Girls Choir would be part of the 10th edition of Akcarolfest in a second appearance having first debuted in the 2016 edition.
On December 13, 2014, Akwa Ibom State Government put together an assemblage of 25,272 carols singers called the Godswill Akpabio unity Choir. This turned out to be the largest mass Choir ever assembled on planet earth. That historic endeavor earned the State a unique place in the Guinness world records. 5000 Choristers selected from that record pool of 25,272 would join other worshippers on December 22 to add a force of value to the historic accomplishment of being listed in the Guinness Book or Record. It should be noted that there are about seven billion people on the planet. Less than one percent gets listed for accomplishments annually. For Akwa Ibom to have made that listing shows that the glorious days of the State have come. As a tribute to that memory, 5000 of those who participated in that Guinness Book of World Records feat would perform on that day.
Also to perform at the event is the host choir, the AKSG Choir, the official Choir of the State Government. The group which was formed in 2008 by the then protocol directorate has talented graduates and undergraduates. The group has also provided back-up singing for all visiting artistes in all past editions. Their choir’s trademark is its soul lifting blend of traditional African and western gospel music deliveries.
Once again, the State Government is providing Akwa Ibom people with a unique opportunity to celebrate the birth of Christ. It is also an opportunity for the people to behold legendary gospel artistes they hitherto watched on television or listen to on radio. By this unique event, some talents in the State have also been identified. The Akwa Ibom Carols Festival is therefore a unique imitative that is rich in benefits and strong in values. With all these, the question is – Where would you rather be on December 22, 2017? For me, the best place to be is where God is celebrated.
Joe Iniodu is a public affairs analyst
