Excitement greets The Lagos City Chorale concert

The Lagos City Chorale

ADA DIKE

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination
and life to everything,” said a Classical Greek philosopher Plato.

Guests comprising men and women from all walks of life as well as children, nourished their souls from the sonorous voices and impressive style of singing displayed by the members of The Lagos City Chorale (LCC), during their Christmas Concert and celebration Gold and Silver Awards.  

The ambience of the hall was cool and calm; the audience nodded and cheered the choristers who thrilled them with enthralling performances at the event held last Sunday at the Agip Hall Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos.

Directed by an internationally recognised music director and conductor, Sir Emeka Nwokedi, the concert, which was divided into two parts began at 5 pm when elegantly dressed choristers came on stage and sang many Christmas songs which included: Joy To The World, Coventry Carol, Joy Fills Our Inmost Hearts Today, Jingle Bells, O Holy Night, The First Norwell and Twelve Days of Christmas among others.

Part A ended with video clips of the LCC’s international stages presented by the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) master’s degree holder in Music (conducting),  Aaron Carter.

Carter narrated how meeting with a Nigerian choir at a conference in China inspired him to come and teach and learn in Nigeria which has more 250 ethnic groups.

The Lagos City Chorale

The great pianist showed the audience a map which has different yellow colours, representing different languages and revealed how the LCC integrates Nigeria for peaceful coexistence.

“Music is a universal language so we are spreading Nigerian languages all over the world through music. I sold my car in order to raise money before I came to Nigeria and my stay here has been worth a while. I am happily married to a beautiful Nigerian lady,” he said.

He however, implored both individuals, corporate organisations and government to support the Lagos City Chorale morally and financially, adding that most of their achievements are based on the group’s effort.

The atmosphere changed when the choristers who left the stage before the video clips returned in uniformed traditional attires, made of white blouses, green wrappers and green head-ties for women while the men adorned in black trousers, green tops, designed with white and black hats (Niger Delta style).

Part B comprised excerpts from performances at the LCC’s First European International Choir Games/Choral Competition in Graz, Austria from July 14 to 21, 2013.

They sang local songs in Yoruba, Efik and Igbo Languages including Polongo Jesu (Proclaim Jesus), Yak Ikom Abasi, Ekworo Nwunye Di, Carole Africana and so on.

Sir Nwokedi explained the meaning of Ekworo Nwunye Di by saying that two women were married to a man. One day, one of them took water from her mate’s pot to give to her child. The other woman became enraged by that act and asked her mate to go to a particular far stream which she would pass through the land of the spirits. On her way, she was accosted by the spirits and she explained why she went to fetch water there.

A dark, average height young lady who led the song dramatised it to the admiration of the audience.

The LCC also paid tribute to Nelson Mandela by singing a South African song: Bawo Thixomandla, arranged by JSM Khumalo.

In an another scene, people burst into long laughter when some choristers representing animals such as cat, goat, cock, sheep, dog and cow appeared on stage and sang like animals during animal carol. They sang how Jesus Christ was born in a manger and animals paid homage to infant Jesus.

With the aim of filling a gap created by lack of viable and standard independent choral group capable of giving high standard choral music performance, the Lagos City Chorale was founded by Sir Nwokedi and Late Senator Lere Adesina in 1988.

According to foremost director, Nwokedi, “one way of rebranding Nigeria beyond the ordinary is what we are doing. Our outings are outstanding with our colourful attires and costumes.

“The Lagos City Chorale has undoubtedly soared to a higher degree across the globe. The LCC has participated in different international competition and won many awards including the 7th World Choir Games in Cincinnati Ohio, USA in 2012, which they won three Silver Medals in three different categories of the competition.

“Recently, at Graz, Austria, we participated in the First European Choir Games, an Austrian Open Competition for world choirs and won two Gold and two Silver diplomas after we contested among 70 choirs from all over the world in four categories which comprised Folklore, Music of the Religions, Music Contemporanea and Mixed Choir, making Nigeria emerged with the highest number of awards in the Austrian Open Competition for choirs from all over the world,” Nwokedi said.

In continuing, he adds: “As part of this global choral festival in Graz, the LCC also participated in two friendship concerts in an 800-year-old church at Murau, a typical Austrian village with great antiquity, and Schloss Eggernberg in Graz. The group further performed Songs of Spirit Festival in Minoritensaal, Graz, which had in attendance the Mayor of Graz, and in Heiligenkreuz a. Wassen. The Song of Spirit Festival is designed to bring together people of different religions and to foster peace and unity amongst them, using the medium and potency of harmonious choral music. Lagos City Chorale was equally invited to lead the service in a Catholic Church at Heilingenkreuz a. Wassen on Sunday 22nd of July.

   “The 10-day event had over 70 choirs from different countries of the world to contest in the Austrian Open Competition, display the best of their country’s culture through choral music, costume and choreography, had Nigeria’s Lagos City Chorale flying the African flag. Our costumes in national colours attracted cheers and loud ovations in public places and after each performance,” he said.

Also, speaking, Mrs. Gbemi Sasore, who represented the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, eulogised the LCC for the good work they’re doing, saying that “the First Lady recognises the work you are doing and knows that you are great ambassadors of Lagos State and Nigeria. She sent her wishes to the group and promised to continue to support you.”

The Deputy of governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire represented by Mrs. Balogun also wished everyone Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

While appreciating the concert, a member of Lagos Presbyterian Church, an organist and chorister, Mr. Asuquo Ekong, said the performance of the LCC was wonderful and soul-lifting.

 He commended the efforts of the music director and the choristers, saying that they showcased a beautiful performance. “It is not easy. I am touched and I hope that everyone was also touched by their performance. We learn everyday and I have learnt a lot from this concert so I am going to add it to what I know already. “

Ekong summarised the essence of celebrating Christmas and the concert as love. “I know that one or two guests here are Muslims, so this kind of gathering brings everybody together instead of segregation or separation. I want to encourage Nigerians to come together to foster oneness.”

After the group’s last song by Arthur Warrel –We Wish You A Merry Christmas, on behalf of the LCC, the Anambra State born graduate of Music from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, expressed appreciation to guests for attending the concert. He also showed his profound gratitude to the special guests which included the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, the Deputy of governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Orelope Adefulire, Chief Mrs. Laila Fowler, Dr. Mrs. Stella Okoli, Chief Kayode Ogunmekan, the Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, His Grace, The Most Rev. (Prof) A. D. Akinde, The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Isiala Ngwa, Rt. Rev. Dr. Isaac Nwobia, Charles Odunukwe, Vice Consul of France Serge Kuhn and Consul General of United States of America Jeffery J. Hawkins.

Many other personalities that graced the concert were: Former Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Chief Segun Osoba, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu and Hakeem Bello-Osagie, among others.