*Artistes promise their best ever
By Innocent Anoruo
Senior Copy Editor
“The 2017 Catholic Praise Concert (CPC) is bigger. It is going to be a power-packed event. We are going to shut down Ikeja,” were the words of the father of CPC, Peter Egbumokei.
He was speaking during a press conference at St. Leo Catholic Church, Ikeja, to announce the third edition of the show which comes up on Friday, August 11, 2017.
CPC is a one-day gospel music concert of praise offering to God for Christians. It features some of the best known music talents who lead the audience in praise, worship, dance and special highlight performances. It has become an opportunity for Christians to gather, putting aside all ungodly differences, and lift their voices in worship to God.
Parish Priest of St. Leo, Rt. Rev. Msgr. John Aniagwu, assured that the show would be done with minimal discomfort to the neighbourhood, “except for sleep”.
The Vicar General/Episcopal Vicar, Ikeja Region, Archdiocese of Lagos, added that those whose sleep are disturbed “should come and join in the praise”, which is not going to be secular but sacred.
Supervisor of CPC 3, Rev. Fr. Joseph Anyanwu, said the concert seeks to take the gospel to every nook and cranny of Nigeria, as the Catholic Church is committed to the Great Commission of evangelism.
“We (Catholics) are not boring but solemn, [obeying the biblical injunction that says] ‘Be still and know that I am God’,” Anyanwu said, alluding to claims that the Catholic Church is boring. He expressed gladness that St. Leo is the first parish hosting the concert.
One of the artistes, Fada Fuji, said: “I am always happy and available to work with [the CPC organisers].”
Prisca D’ Nightingale, one of Nigeria’s best sopranos, promised to come up with “new things that will make my fans love me more, and make sound a great thing to listen to and enjoy”.
However, she wants the organisers to improve on sound and video coverage, time management, proper arrangement of performing artistes according to their genres of music, artistes’ green room, advertisement and promotion.
For Ella Vibes, a non-Catholic artiste, it is not going to be business-as-usual, as she promised to bring her best to the show.
Freedom Park, Lagos Island, hosted the maiden edition of the show in 2014, while the second was at the University of Lagos in 2015. After the second edition, the organisers went back to the drawing board to re-strategise. Hence, it was not held in 2015.
According to Egbumokei, some of the changes made in the organisation of the concert include having the show within the church premises and involvement of over 20 artistes.
Ivie Okujaiye and Iyke Okechukwu will compere this edition, which is organised by the Felicia Michael Save our Souls Foundation (FMSOSF), House of Ogugua, Peter Egbumokei and Yellow Craig, in conjunction with St. Leo Catholic Church, Ikeja, and supported by the Archdiocese of Lagos.
He added that the show will start with a Mass at 6.30pm on August 11 and end by 5.30am with Mass on August 12.
Rev. Fr. Lawrence Adelana (a.k.a. Fada Fuji), Rev. Fr. Tony-Maria Boluwaji, Joe Praize, Tessy Aniesi, Daniel Azuka (violinist from Turkey), Kenny K’Ore, Prisca D’ Nightingale, Psalmos, Kellar Thrillz, St. Augustine Choir of St. Leo, Church of Assumption Falomo Choir, Emmanuel Asuquo (Psalms Gospel Music Label), Ella Vibes and Uduak Gamble, Jesus Baby, DJ X-moe and others are in the artiste line-up.
Egbumokei noted that more artistes were still indicating interest to perform at the show.
