Vocal Worship with One of the Largest Choir in the World...

A departure from the calm and serene environs was the capacity filled Stadium with its rich mix of crowd; choristers, audience, security operatives and hawkers giving off a pulsating synergy that can only be found in events like this. As you manage to get inside the outer bowl of the stadium that evening, you are confronted with hawkers of different wares, from drink vendors to souvenir merchants, all cashing in on the opportunity to make brisk business. Welcome to the venue of the 8th edition of the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carol Festival. The first in the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel, this year’s edition was just as exciting as in the past. It was a display of great splendour and magnificence

Despite being the first for the Emmanuel’s administration, the celestial night, no doubt, has continued to receive acceptance by the people of the state and tourists

The multitude represented a city engulfed with the celebration of Christmas. An intimidating assembly of carol singers gave it their all in an outstanding performance leaving every one present including both local and foreign tourists, top clergy men, distinguished personalities and thousands of crowd filled with joy and happiness as beautiful Christmas Carols were sung (mostly in their local dialect) to the delight of the crowd, making it a night to remember and one of the top events of their social calendar.

Although this year’s edition took a new dimension, as the record making 9999 choir was not featured at the carol night, the star-studded event featured-international gospel artistes including Donnie McClurkin, Voices of Barbados, Angella Christie and Chevelle Franklyn, with performance of local gospel acts including Asu Ekiye, Anne Inyang, Lara George, Chinelo Dellimono, Aity Dennis and David Eka who literally charged the event.

Indeed, the atmosphere at the Akwa Ibom Township Stadium, venue of the festival, was lively. Over 10,000 guests who participated in rendition of praise and worship of God were filled with joy and happiness.

The festival had carnival-like decorations around the stadium with two long platforms – one was for the governor and family, members of the state executive council, the legislature and the judiciary and another one was for dignitaries. This year’s edition of the gospel concert had the support of Globacom, United Bank for Africa, Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Hensek and Zenith Bank.

The Akwa Ibom governor and organising committee showed creativity in the staging of the annual event that was started by the administration of Godswill Akpabio in 2008. It was repackaged in a manner to remain the cynosure of all eyes as well as attract new visitors.

The festival was beamed live on global broadcast media such as DSTV (African Magic and dedicated channels), NTA and AIT.

The event was flagged off by Emmanuel accompanied by his wife and children. In his address, the governor stated that the annual Christmas Carol Night was one of the shining legacies of the Akpabio administration. He said: “We are proud to inherit, sustain and improve upon it for the good of Akwa Ibom State. This night, we have come here to sing to the supreme God who can take us to the Supreme Court.”

The night was electrified when international gospel act, Pastor McClurkin, brought down the Shekinah glory when he sang in Efik language, ‘’Eyama ne kwo, eyama ne nekikwo idara ke esami‘’. Angella Christie and David Eka the saxophonists, also charged the stadium with popular gospel hits.

Shortly after the flag-off, the General Overseer of TREM, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, mounted the podium to offer Christmas message. The guest preacher, reading from Isaiah 9 and Luke 2: 7-11, said: “The love of God to humanity has not changed since creation. To attract the love of God demands building of faith and believing in the teachings of the Holy Spirit.”

In his benediction, Senator Godswill Akpabio said: “This is one of the legacies that God can never forget because we have kept faith with God, we have come here to join our voices to praise God and we shall continue to have blessings upon us.”

A far cry from carnivals and social gigs prevalent at that time of the month, it was a night of joy and blessing as the people and government of Akwa Ibom State chose to praise the Lord and give him thanks for his faithfulness to the state.

The mass choir of Akwa Ibom is considered by some to be epically historic and awesomely significant because of its size, making it one of the biggest choir group in the world singing a medley of traditional Christmas songs that included The First Noel, Joy to The World, O Christmas Tree, Hark The Herald Sing, Once In Royal Davids City and O Come All Ye Faithful.

The stadium wore a carnivalesque look, from the large statuesque Christmas tree to different uniforms of choristers to decorations to different attires of the crowd. One constant feature all through the night was classy fireworks and hovering drones in the air adding more grace to the ambience. The sitting arrangement was well co-ordinated with articulated viewing ranges for everyone.

There were two large stages planted on the football pitch. One was for the special guests of honour which included the governor and his Exco and other special invitees. Facing this in the far end was the one for the Brass band and other invited bands. Between the two large stages were two podiums, one was to the governor’s stage and the other on to the brass band stand. Adjacent these podiums were sets of chairs neatly arranged where members of the public were seated. There was a walkway overlaid with red a carpet which connected the governor’s stage with the podium which faces the Brass band stage.

The sound was clear, an indication the organiser went for the best equipment for the best carol session. The voices of the MCs were distinctly clear and audible.