Israel Umoh
Another cheery evening of Christmas Carols Festival that regally exemplifies praises, dances and gospel songs, is here in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital. An array of large group of Carol singers in the world will congregate and storm the space with high decibels.
Glittering lighting effects will blight the dusty sky paled by hot air. The global event will climax Friday, December 16 from 6 p.m. with flashing fireworks as denouement.
The picturesque 2022 Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival, which has become a yearly ritual for over 15 years in the Land of Promise, peaks with glitz and pomp. Ambient Ibom Hall Arena, venue of the glamorous event, is canticle of beauty and masterpiece of ingenuity, courtesy of Mr. Aniekpeno Mkpanang, the programme organizer and a retired Permanent Secretary in Akwa Ibom civil service.
Read also: 2021 Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival Set to Roll
Situated along IBB Avenue, Uyo, Ibom Hall Arena is opposite of Ibom Hall grounds built by the late Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, then military administrator in Akwa Ibom.
Opposite the arena is hugely erected sign post with flex marbled: ‘Welcome to Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival 2022. Theme: Go Forward taken from Exodus 14: 16 ‘‘And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.’’ Behind the signpost is lighting effect to blaze the message to visitors.
Before the main entrance stands a spherically-shaped architecture with metallic steel sitting on encircled pavement with chirpings. Adjacent the arena is hugely erected but partitioned wall. Like the famed Berlin wall, it demarcates between the arena and the main hall, foreclosing any trespass. The front row of the wall is decked with industrial glass. On top of it are emblazoned: Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. Thank you for the 8 years of the Carols Festival.
The curvy wall emptying into the major exit route has eight colours symbolising the eight-year rule of the governor.
On top of the barricading wall are eight flags boldly inscribed: AKCAROLSFEST2022 while daka’dda Creed is pasted on the wall painted yellow.
A first-time visitor to the arena is greeted with different languages. Before the entrance to the main bowl of the area are well-fitted glasses with eye-popping messages boldly engraved: ‘Welcome,’ ‘Barka Da Zuwa’, ‘Ekabo,’ ‘Akwaaba,’ ‘Bienvei’ to welcome guests to the internationally acclaimed event.
At the mouth of the arena is signage adorned: Medi Clinic, Executive Parking, Ambulance standing on a concrete wall. Ornamental flowers stick out like totem of beautification. Intimidating flood lights that could ferret out a needle at night shoot up at strategic places to brighten the main bowl and vicinity of the arena. The major entrance volleys into a tunnel for the guests to jog to their seats. The well-paved tunnel has five outlets that lead guests to their places. It terminates with bellying spider lighting effects fixed for aesthetic value to celebrate the entrances.
By the left hand of the arena are two well-furnished Presidential toilets tagged VIP toilets for both males and females. The tunnel leads gently to barbed wires to escort holders of six different cards to their seats to watch the colourful event.
At the tail of the arena sits conductor’s stage glowing with decorative lights. Designed with ladder-like steps, the stage is another beauty to behold, glittering with five ball-like objects and lighting effects.
Standing close to the performers’ stage is a tall but elegant Christmas tree. The giant-sized tree creatively designed is draped with fanciful Christmas lights at the base. The body and peak of the magnificent tree are adorned with multi-coloured incandescent lights.
At the performers’ stage is a large-sized screen while other screens will go to the populace and the governor. Measuring 15’x70,’ the stage accommodates large-sized speakers with acoustics that ooze out high decibels to the high heavens.
Apart from toilets built for members of the audience, the arena boasts of more than 20 exits in case of emergency. Adequate safety measures are put in places. Some portions at the back of the arena are filled to serve as elevated platforms for the audience.
The arena is officially crooned with emblems of Zenith Bank, perhaps as one of the sponsors. Six Red Cross Stations jut over strategic parts of the arena.
At the well-furnished Event Centre, Straightnews team met Mkpanang, the event organizer. The centre is a mobile accommodation built to international standard for gospel singers and performers.
Gospel stars expected to light the sky of the night are many. During the event proper, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, the great man of God would lift his praise to God.
Donald Andrew “Donnie” McClurkin, Jr, an American gospel singer and minister, Grammy Awards and Stellar Awards winner; Nathaniel Bassey, a Nigerian singer, trumpeter and gospel songwriter popularly known for his songs “Imela,” “Onise Iyanu” as well as Emmanuel Benjamin known professionally as Eben, a Nigerian gospel singer, vocalist and songwriter will perform at the event.
Dr. Sonnie Badu, a remarkable Togolose Unity Choir (CHŒUR DE L’UNITÉ TOGOLAISE), a choral group with an ensemble of some of the finest vocalists and instrumentalist is expected.
Energetic Gospel Minstrel Dr. Ronke Adesokan from the United States of America will perform live.
Osinachi Kalu Egbu famously called Sinach, the great gospel songstress, will feature during the superb event.
Pastor Aity Dennis, Nigerian songstress, will lead into the most vibrant African Worship moment.
Mercy Atang, an indigene of Eket, Akwa Ibom State is an outstanding Gospel Music artiste. Mrs Atang is the lead vocalist of the prestigious Promised Land Chorale International, a leading choral group in Nigeria.
Buchi, the multiple award-winning gospel reggae sensation, will feature at the event.
Emmanuel Iwok is a magnificent vocalist and composer. An indigene of Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State, he has been a member of several choirs since 1998 till date, including the Voice of The Angels Choir, (Saint John’s Pro Cathedral Catholic Church, Abak) and the Episcopal Choir, later known as Saint Joseph’s Choir (Christ the King Cathedral Church, Uyo) where he is currently the Choir Director.
Uto Essien, a Pastor, lawyer and recording artist with an amazing music career spanning over 2 decades. She is an amazing singer.
Amazing YAMA CHORALE, a Nigerian choral group with Catholic roots that originated from Akwa Ibom State with the mission to document our traditional tunes and sing all genres of music with African traditional music instruments, vibrant Minister Solomon Moses, Larry John, popularly known as Larry Sax is a phenomenal saxophonist and gospel musician.
Ibom Orchestra, a talented group of Akwa Ibom youths who use their brass instruments to create stunning music.
Unlike the 25,000 choral singers some years ago, 5,000 choristers shall grace the Akwa Ibom, while Davasol Brothers are biological twins that have a unique and sweet grace of easily connecting people to worship and praise with their inspiring music.
They have been singing since 2002 as children in a church choir but started singing professionally in 2012. Currently, they lead praise and worship at the Full Life Christian Center, the Triumphant Philharmonic Chorale at the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival 2022!
AKSG Choir is an ensemble of some of the finest voices and instrumentalists from Akwa Ibom State. The vocal skills of the Uyo-based choral group could be unmatched.
Highlights of the event will be sermon by Pastor David Ibiyeomie, the General Overseer of Salvation Ministries, while Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel will officially flag off the 2022 Christmas Carols Festival.
One Ubeng, a retired civil servant, was awed by the scene of the arena. ‘‘I have been hearing and reading a similar thing from the internet, but this is the first time of seeing this type of arena. I thank God for Aniekpeno. He is richly endowed to have conceived and organized this great event over the years.’’
A worker at the site who did not want to mention his name was full of praises for Mkpanang’s creativity in organizing the event. ‘‘A Yoruba man came and saw this and could not control his emotions. I wish this man is from our stock. Our people would have showcased him to the world. He is a rare breed, and talented event planner. I have not seen this person full of creative vibes and concepts.’’
As the event rolls in, its memories like scent leaf will linger in the minds of audience-participants, making them to surmise, ‘‘There was 2022 Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival, when comes another?’’
