Collage photo of Bishop Thomas Jakes and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, expected as guest ministers at the 2021 Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival.
By Abasifreke Effiong
Bishop Thomas Jakes, Senior Pastor of The Potter’s House in the U.S.A and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, will minister at the Akwa Ibom 2021 Christmas Carols Festival.
The Christmas carolfest tagged “The Return” is holding at the Ibom hall grounds, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Friday 17th December 2021 by 6p.m.
It will be the first time two guest ministers will be ministering at the annual Carols and spiritual meet.
Briefing journalists on Wednesday ahead of the event, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Aniekpeno Mkpanang, represented by Mr. Raphael Edem, said 5,000 Carol singers from the world record-holding largest carol choir, the Akwa Ibom State Mass Choir, will sing at the event.
“The choirs performing at this year’s edition include the globally recognized World Record Mass Choir of the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival. The World Record Mass Choir in this edition will feature 5,000 out of the 25,000-strong choir.”
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“Other choir groups that will perform this year are the host choir, the Akwa Ibom State Government Choir, The Promised-Land Chorale Int’l, Intenxity and the Ibom Orchestra.”
The organisers said more than 10 home-based gospel singers will make special appearances at the event alongside the South African multi-award winning DJ and musician, Master KG.
“The 2021 Festival will feature a predominantly Nigerian line up of renowned gospel music ministers including the legendary Panam Percy Paul, and other award winning gospel singers like Tim Godfrey, Dunsin Oyekan, Ada Ehi, Aity Dennis, Bobby Friga, David G, Ema Onyx, GUC, Progress Effiong, John Bassey, Patience Ekwere, Uduakobong Akpan Jnr”.
The Christmas carolsfest is returning after a break in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The theme of the event, “The Return” is drawn from the scriptures in the book of Isaiah 51 verse 11.
“The theme for the 2021 Carols Festival is ‘The Return’ and is drawn from the the bible verse Isiah 51:11. Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.”
“From inception, the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival was conceived to enhance the spiritual rejuvenation of the state and people, and after 12 successful editions, that purpose of the Carols Festival has remained undefeated. As a people who have been largely preserved from the fatalities that rocked the world in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are returning to thank God for his blessings to us as a state and a people”, Mkpanang said in press statement.
The Akwa Ibom Christmas Carol Festival founded in 2008 has held the title of the World’s largest Christmas Carols group with 25,000 singers since 2014.
