IT promises to be an exhilarating and soul-lifting time for Lagosians comes October 17 as some of the nation’s most celebrated gospel artistes converge on the National Stadium (New Gymnasium Hall), Surulere, Lagos to soothe burdened souls with their music.
Featuring some of the country’s biggest musical exports like multi-award winning gospel artiste Sinach, enthusiastic performer Tim Godfrey and Xtreme, and joining these are two United Kingdom based acts, TJ Dairo (a scion of the legendary IK Dairo musical family) and the ever captivating Christine Joda. To compere the event is the duo of Okundalaiye Ayodele aka Senior Advocate of Comedy (SACO) and Damola. To complete the day’s attractions are the fascinating and highly talented CCIC Levites.
The musical jamz which is slated for Saturday October 17 is the climax of the six-day annual Camp meeting programme of the Christ Chapel International Churches aka Voice of Faith Ministries which is holding at the same venue. And the event is expected to attract young and enthusiastic Nigerians and foreign visitors to the 2015 Camp meeting programme of the Church.
Starting from 2pm and with a strict dress code of T-Shirt on jeans, the musical jamz promises to be another avenue to bless guests to the Church programme and as it has been the experience in the 28 years of Campmeeting, adults have never missed the opportunity to be entertained by the unique array of gospel artistes that grace the event.
Sinach is not a stranger to the Lagos and international audience of gospel music as she has over 200 songs to her credit with her songs sang in Churches and moderate social events across the world. She has traversed the continents delivering life transforming songs across the Americas, United Kingdom, Republic of South Africa, Uganda and elsewhere in the world.
Sinach’s song ‘This is your Season’ is the recipient of the Song of the Year award in 2008 , her other award winning songs include: Awesome God, Simply Devoted, I am ready for Your Spirit, Shout of the King, All things are possible, Born to win, Fire in me, More of You, No failure with God, etc.
Tim Godfrey and Xtreme is a delightful sight on stage as the group led by the multi -talented Tim have succeeded to sustain audience attention through their often danceable gospel musical genre accompanied with a choreography the youths are ever eager to emulate. Tim Godfrey’s has introduced a brand of contemporary sound by infusing western fills into African music and this has set him and his moderate sized group apart.
Tim Godfrey is not easily forgotten as the co-ordinator of the band that performed for the Nigerian artistes that were nominated for the KORA AWARDS 2005, while his crew performed at the GHANA MUSIC AWARD 2006 performing alongside Sammie Okposo at the award concert.
United Kingdom based Tunji Dairo aka TJ Dairo has music dwelling in him as he was born into the famous Dairo family of musicians and is a nephew to the late I.K Dairo. Tunji was exposed to music as early as 14 and by 16, he had established proficiency in at least six musical instruments including bass guitar, keyboard, saxophone and drums.
He had the privilege of working with musical greats like Michelle Williams (destiny’s child), Simon Webb (Blue), Il Divo, Steve Mac, Ron Kenoly, Keith Staten, Paul Dairo, Terry Walker, Helen Baylor, Adlan Cruz, Kush, Muyiwa & Riversongz, Patti Boulaye, Tim Hughes, Eddie Martin and many more.
Tunji has served as a music director in a number of churches and was the music director for the London Festival of Life an RCCG all night prayer meeting with over 30,000 people in attendance for ten years and is an ordained minister in that ministry.
Perhaps one of the most interesting revelations in recent times is Christine Joda.
Daughter of foremost Nigerian Pentecostal movement Pastor, Rev. Dr Tunde and his wife Rev. (Mrs) Ebun Joda; Christine is scion of that faith-bound family of true worshippers of God.
Based in the United Kingdom, she has blossomed over the years and today, she is in the forefront of young and talented gospel artistes who are pointing the way forward for the next generation. With her electric stage performance and sonorous voice, the ease with which both the young and old connect with Christine and her music is a rarity difficult to fathom. That is indeed is the charm of this future of gospel music from Africa.
Other side attractions will include the ecclesiastic Christ Chapel International Churches Levites which in the words of the senior and founding Pastor of the ministry, Rev Dr Tunde Joda is, “primarily a praise and worship ministry with an interest in contemporary music”, albeit this interest has remained one of the enduring legacies of Christ Chapel to Christendom in Nigeria and beyond.
In order to put up a sterling performance in this year’s programme of the Church, each member of the Levite has adopted several codes of voice and mental disciplines and fully primed, according to the coordinator of the group, Andrew Eweka, “this promises to be an extraordinary event as God has promised us His glory will be made manifest as His people lift up their voices to worship Him.”
The six-hour programme according to the organisers promises to keep the audience yearning for more and above all, it would bless the people, lift burdens off people’s shoulders and provide a respite for the ever busy Lagos family, among others.