NewsAkwa Ibom Agog For 2022 Christmas Carol Festival

Akwa Ibom Agog For 2022 Christmas Carol Festival

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December 16, (THEWILL) – Akwa Ibom State Christmas Carol Festival has remained the largest single gathering of carol singers in the world since the record was broken on December 13, 2014, during the tenure of the former governor, Godswill Akpabio.

The concert, which featured 25,272 carol singers at the Akwa Ibom State Township Stadium, Udo Umana, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, had Guinness World Records representatives in attendance and was officially certified as the largest such gathering in the world by Guinness World Records on December 13, 2014, beating a former record of 15,674 carol singers, which was achieved the previous year (December 15, 2013) by a group called CENTI in Bogotá, Colombia.

Records available to Niger Delta Tribune show that the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carol Festival made its debut in 2008. It was known then as the “Akwa Ibom State Christmas Carol Night”.

Glo

The event made global history when it featured an unprecedented 9,999-member choir. That gave the event the epithet, “9999 Carol Night.”

The carol festival kept improving by the year, and in 2012 featured prominent international artistes like Alvin Slaughter and Donnie McClurkin from the US and the Chorale Devine de Merveilles of the Republic of Congo, among others.

Bishop Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel) and human rights activist, Rev. Jesse Jackson, attended the 2013 edition, which featured the National Choir of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, international singers like Lionel Peterson and Israel Houghton, as well as Nigerian singers including Bongos Ikwue, Frank Edwards, Nathaniel Bassey, Aity Dennis Inyang, el Mafrex, Freke Umoh and Fadabasi.

The 2014 event broke a Guinness World Record to become the “Largest Assembly of Carol Singers on the Face of the Earth”. In attendance were Don Moen, international gospel music composer, and Cardinal John Onaiyekan of Abuja Catholic Diocese.

The event featured special performances by Quartets from the five international choirs that performed in past editions. Also performing were gospel saxophonists Angela Christie, Lionel Peterson, Sinach, Harmonious Chorale and many others.

With the new government, led by Udom Emmanuel on the saddle, the all-Christian event became thicker and more purpose-driven, in 2016, the concert was organized on December 17, 2016.

Though with guest artists from around the world such as Award Winning gospel singer, Don Moen, PRM band, The Kayamba Africa Choral Ensemble and Kenya Boys Choir. Some local artists from Nigeria such as Sammie Okposo, Buchi, Steve Crown, Elijah Oyelade, Akwa Ibom clerics and singers also featured prominently. Rev. Fr. Patrick Edet, Esther Edoho, Julius Nglass and Perfecta Ekpo were also among those who performed in the year’s event.

The festival only had a break in 2020 because of the outbreak of COVID-19, which practically crippled everything including the world economy but there was a return in 2021.

As this year’s festive season unfolds, the people of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and indeed the world are prepared for the annual tradition of the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival to be held at Ibom Hall Grounds, IBB Avenue, Uyo, the state capital. This year, the AKCAROLSFEST will bring together a host of worshippers and feature the Guinness World Record Choir (holding the record as the “Largest Group of Carol Singers in the world”). The festival will also showcase other chorale groups and some of the best local and international gospel artistes of our time with the theme: “GO FORWARD”.

Pastor David Ibiyeomie, often described as an extraordinarily anointed Man of God, would be the guest minister at the event. He is the founder and presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries Worldwide; with Headquarters currently in Port Harcourt City, Rivers State of Nigeria.

Artists expected at this year’s event which comes up on Friday, December 16th: include one of Akwa Ibom’s treasures to the world – Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, the king of Gospel Reggae; BUCHI, the Davasol Brothers; the biological twins that have been proven to have a unique and sweet grace of easily connecting people to worship and praise with their inspiring music.

Others include the unique female singer, Sinach, who is also billed to grace the Christmas festival. Also, Larry John, popularly known as Larry Sax, is expected, Pastor Aity Dennis Inyang, Emmanuel Iwok, Uto Essien are all expected to perform at the Akwa Ibom Christmas festival come Dec. 16, 2022.

Choirs to perform at the event include;

The Guinness World Record Choir is the 25,000-man choir that made the world record for the “Largest Group of Carol Singers” and holds the record as certified by the Guinness World Records to date. The choir is made up of Akwa Ibom indigenes from every village of all the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State
At subsequent editions of the festival, 5,000 choristers from the 25,000-man choir have always performed as the main sensation of the festival. This year, 5,000 choristers again shall grace the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival and shall sing traditional Christmas Carols on that night in celebration of the yuletide.

YAMA CHORALE is a Nigerian choral group with Catholic roots that originated from Akwa Ibom State with the mission to document the traditional tunes and sing all genres of music with African traditional music instruments.

This year, a chat with the lead organiser of the event, Mr Aniekpeno Mkpanam, promises an African Christmas Festival like never before, with an official hashtag: #AKCAROLSFEST2022.
Also, hotels, restaurants, and even roadside sellers, who spoke on the positive multiplier effects of the festival said it’s one day that is always looked forward to with great expectation.

Tribune Niger Delta gathered on good authority that 90 percent of the guest houses in the capital city are always fully booked for at least two nights during the period.

“It is something great, as we are today, all the rooms are fully booked for Friday and Saturday. We don’t have a single room for those two days and I know very well that we will sell drinks, meat, food etc. Our bar is always empty at the end of the event and Friday will not be an exception. So we are fully prepared”, a hotel attendant along IBB Avenue responded.

According to Mkpanam, the venue has been repositioned to give orderliness in sitting arrangements, security, media coverage, easy entrance and 15 exit routes to make way for an easy exit to avoid stampede at the end of the event which is always at the wee hours of the night.

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