ASIWAJU OF REMO CHRISTIANS CHOIR FESTIVAL WINNERS EMERGES

The Asiwaju of Remo Christians Choir Festival an annual gathering for choral performances by various church choirs and choral groups within and outside Ogun State, South-West Nigeria announced winners.

The programme began about 16 years ago as part of the annual family thanksgiving programme of Otunba Engr. Gbenga Daniel at the International Ecumenical Worship Centre, “Abraham Tabernacle”, Sagamu, Ogun State. This worship place was built to honor God and immortalize his late father, His Grace, Most Revd Abraham Adebola Daniel, JP (1916 – 2011). The Choir Festival holds spiritual and moral significance, aiming to preach the gospel through music and improve singing in churches. This mission is reflected in the festival’s motto: *”Improving the art of singing in our churches.”*

Originally part of a thanksgiving event, the Choir Festival was separated and expanded into a distinct programme, rebranded as *”The Choir Festival”* in 2022, marking its maiden edition.

Sponsored by the former Governor of Ogun State and Asiwaju of Remo Christians, Otunba Engr. Gbenga Daniel FNSE, FAEng, the festival was inspired by the need to promote singing in churches within the community and beyond. Several organizations, companies, and individuals have shown interest in becoming partners for the programme, as its scope and impact as a vehicle for spiritual growth through singing continue to grow.

This year’s Choir Festival took place on Sunday, 16th of June, 2024, with the theme *”Messiah Baba Mi.”* The venue for this programme was The Abraham Tabernacle Church, Oba Erinwole Road, G.R.A, Sagamu, an Ecumenical Worship Center under the management of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC).

The aim of the programme is to promote and enhance singing in churches in the community and Nigeria at large. The festival draws choirs from various churches and chorales at every edition. The host choir, the Abraham Tabernacle Choir, and the choir defending the title from the previous edition are the only choirs guaranteed automatic qualification each year. Other choirs qualify to participate through invitation and audition.

The festival’s grading categories include vocal quality, diction/articulation, interpretation, audience appreciation/response, dynamics, and appearance.

The Festival Director and Executive Secretary of the BOT is Dr. Opeyemi Adeyinka Asaolu, a Lecturer in the Department of Music, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

Results of the 2024 Festival

The winner of this year’s Asiwaju of Remo Christians Choir Festival is De Emeralds Choir from Akure. They won the N3,000,000 star prize, plus the Sir Olu Okeowo prize of N1,000,000, and the High Chief Abiola Ogundokun award prize of N100,000 at the post Choir Festival dinner. The Choir also won the award for Best Choir in Creativity. Notably, De Emeralds Choir finished in the last position in the 2023 edition of the Choir Festival, but this year they made a remarkable comeback to win the coveted prize. Congratulations to De Emeralds Choir Akure, their Music Director, Gbenga Obagbemi, and Deputy Music Director, Deji Adesuyi, for a job well done.

The Messiah Chorale from Ile-Ife, participating in the programme for the first time, were the first runners-up, winning N1,500,000 and the award for Best Vocal Performance. The second runners-up were The Chamber Chorale of Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, who received a prize of N1,000,000 and the award for Best Performance Direction. The New Wine Ensemble were in the fourth position with N750,000 prize money and the Choir also won the Best Choir award in Diction and Articulation, the host choir, Abraham Tabernacle were in the fifth position with N600,000 prize money and the Choir also won the Best in Audience Appreciation and the least but not the last were The Great Remo Chorale who won the Best Award in costume and they went away with N500,000 prize money.

Twelve (12) Choirs were in observing categories, each of them went away with 250,000 each. Other side attractions were the Nigerian Navy Band, Igbobi College Choir Boys, A Tenor Soloist-Nonso Ugwu all performed at the Pre-Festival Performances.

One of the Judges, a prolific mezzo Soprano singer, a vocal coach, Dupe Ige Kachi waoed the audience with her exceptional talent and warm timbre in the way she captivated the audience with her performance of the solo part of this year’s festival anthem “Messiah baba mi” a composition by Dr. Ayodamope Oluranti.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and participants for their exceptional performances and dedication to enhancing the art of singing in our churches.

**For more information, please contact: +234 803 822 8955

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