The event holds a Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest gathering of Carol Singers, as against 7,514 singers who hold the 2004 Guinness
Book of Records largest assembly of choristers at the Bob Jones University in South Carolina, United States.
2. IBOM CHORALE &ORCHESTRA
The planning committee has reduced members of the Brass Band from a 200-man to a 100-man band, and raised a 200-man band christened ‘Ibom Chorale and Orchestra’ comprising a 100- man classical mass choir, a 50-man orchestra choir, 35 singers, 10 instrumentalists and 10 lead
singers to beef up this year’s edition, as well as St. Kitts and Nevis National Mass Choir.
3. GUEST MINISTER- BISHOP OYEDEPO: WINNERS CHAPEL G.O
It was a pleasure to have the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God last year, the announcement has been made that Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Bible Church a.k.a Winners Chapel is the guest minister for 2013.
4. INTERNATIONAL GUEST ARTISTES
Headliners for this edition are carefully selected from South Africa and United States of America. These great and multi-talented gospel artistes of national and international reckoning; they are Israel Houghton, a US internationally recognized worship leader, recording artiste, song writer, producer and a five-time Grammy Award winner and Lionel Peterson, a world renowned South African Gospel legend, famous for mega gospel hit - ‘Jabulani Africa’.
5. EVENT DETAILS
The event slated for December 21, 2013, the event is free for all, and will hold at Uyo Sports Stadium, choristers usually seat earlier, but event officially begins by 7pm.
6. MEDIA SUPPORT
Akwa Ibom State boasts of a vibrant local media, and international acceptance in recent time, asides enjoying series of countdowns on several media platforms, the 9,999 concert will be beamed live by AKBC (TV Service),Uyo, AIT and NTA International, and on the internet by
Digital Generation Systems through www.aksgonline.com or www.ustream.tv.
7. FACE BEHIND THE VOICE
The event is a pet child of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration which started in 2008 with 9,300 choral singers drawn from the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State, years later as the brand grew, there was need for redefinition, and uniqueness hence the name and number ‘ 9,999’.
The 9,999 carol converge and all its concepts spring out from the stables of the Akwa Ibom State Protocol unit headed by the Director Mr. Aniekpeno Mkpanang.
Broadcaster & Script Writer, time and space will not allow a run down of Mr. Mkpanang’s profile. For short, he is a perfectionist, these event and many other concepts from the Akwa Ibom state Government are handled by his office and his team of seasoned protocol professionals
he has groomed over the years, probably owing to his experience during his working time at the Presidential Villa-Aso Rock, Abuja.
On a lighter note, after the need for a re-branding came, and the increase in carol singers for Akwa Ibom State Government 9,999 Christmas Carol night, the Governor almost rebranded the idea again during the 2012 edition, His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State Chief Dr. Godswill Akpabio said ‘Let me point this out to you all, we actually have 10,000 carol singers, I make up the number’.
8. IMPACT
Unity is vital; the choristers from Mbo are about 3 hours away from the ones coming from Etim Ekpo, both in Akwa Ibom, but they will meet more often due to rehearsals. It is important to acknowledge, that the impact of this annual feat is beyond what records can contain, it is
always an awesome experience to see a people gather in one accord to reverence the creator. Just the same way the state is committed to Gods care in a Solemn Assembly every January; there is no better way to end in December than with 9,999.
9. NINE MUSICIANS FROM NIGERIA
So much about 9, The Governor was born on the 9th of December, and he will be 51 this year.
A rare breed of nine (9) Nigerian (Gospel) Musicians will sing carols, they are; Aity Dennis Inyang, Pastor Goody Goody, Fadabasi, Linda Etukudoh, Nathaniel Bassey, Freke Umoh, and Folake Umosen.
The remaining two are Sinach, an international worship leader from Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Believers Love-World Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy International, she is popular with over 200 worship songs such as Awesome God, More of You, and From Glory to Glory, among others; Frank Edwards, a Nigerian exceptional, versatile and multiple award winning gospel rock artiste and one of the Music ambassadors of Christ Embassy International Church, known for such hit singles as ‘‘You too dey bless me and Omemma’.
See www.9999carolsingers.com for updates.
Nelson Nse-Abasi reporting.
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