Perhaps the next event that would enliven the mood of the people of Akwa Ibom State, following last week’s collapse of the Reigners Bible International church building that left several worshipers dead, will be the annual Akwa Ibom State Christmas Carol Festival, billed to take place this Saturday, at the Uyo Township Stadium.
Next generation network, Globacom, which supported the event in 2015 has announced its readiness to sponsor the event again. Many believe that the event will double as a thanksgiving service for the State at this time. Glo returns as an exclusive telecoms partner for this year’s edition.
The festival, with the theme: “Let Our King Be Lifted High”, is expected to be broadcast live by major television stations, including African Independent Television (AIT), Channels TV, DSTV (on Africa Magic and dedicated channels) and AKBC.
Globacom explained that the success of last year’s carol which had award-winning artistes from all over the world, including two Grammy award winners, informed its decision to sponsor the festival again this year.
“We fully identify with the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols festival which has become one of the biggest crowd-pulling events of the Yuletide season. Our desire is to follow the passion of Nigerians and connect them with their passion,” the company said in a statement released in Lagos.
According to Globacom, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has already sent a message of appreciation to them for accepting to sponsor this year’s event.
For the 2016 edition of the festival, multiple award-winning international gospel singer, Don Moen, the PRM band from the United Kingdom, the Kenya Boys Choir and the Kayamba Africa Choral Ensemble are billed to perform. Other artistes who will entertain guests at the event are some of the country’s top gospel musicians including Sammie Okposo, Buchi, Steve Crown, Elijah Oyelade, Rev. Fr. Patrick Edet, Esther Edoho, Julius Nglass and Perfecta Ekpo.
The Ibom Orchestra, The Ibom Brass Band and the Akwa Ibom State Government Choir, which put up a brilliant performance in the 2015 edition, will also take turns to thrill the audience. The climax of the show will be the globally acclaimed 10,000-man choir which has a record of rendering remarkable Christmas Carols in a manner that had never been experienced before.
The event is recognised worldwide, and it was cited in the Guinness Book of Records when, in the 2012 edition, it featured a 9,999-member choir which was reputed to be the largest carol choir on the continent at that time.
