Array of stars for Celebrity Prayse season 10

All road will lead to The Dome, in the Lekki axis of Lagos, on Sunday, September 12, for the 10th edition of Celebrity Prayse where both A-list and emerging creatives in the Nigerian entertainment industry will converge in their usual cocktail of thanksgiving, prayers and entertainment.

This year’s edition is to be headlined by Comedian, Ayo Makun, aka AY, as well as Acapella and Ayo Maria-Ese.

Among the performers slated for the event include: Beejay Sax, Mike Abdul. Kenny Black, Aproko, Segun Arinze. Other diginitaries such as Honourable Desmond Elliot, Sola Sobowale, Waje Iruobe, Monalisa Chinda, Kcee, among others are also slated to attend.

After a decade of being in existence, the Celebrity Prayse event has become a beacon of hope for entertainers who have affirmed the need to always dedicate their progress and survival to the will of the almighty, the event’s convener, Pastor Paul Emmanuel explained.

“It is important for us as an industry to have a prayer-praise structure. It is not just when we lose someone that we remember to call on God. In the last few weeks, our hearts have been heavy because we keep on losing people,” he said.

The event, which is a brainchild of the convener in partnership with the Actor’s Guild of Nigeria, Performing Musicians, as well as other stakeholders in the industry, is slated at no cost to attendees, even as it open its doors to all members of the creative industry in the country.

Speaking at a press conference held, in Lagos, Comedian Alibaba expressed that the event is crucial to the lifespan of creatives, urging people to unite their work and faith.

He said, “It is not just about praying to God to ask him for things we need. It is also important, as entertainers, to always show Him gratitude and thanksgiving. It is so important to say thank you to God, because as entertainers we cannot do anything on our own.”

Also, representing the acting industry, as well as policy makers, Honourable Desmond Elliot, also affirmed the value of the event, urging entertainers to ensure they attend.

“We must take spiritual things like this seriously. There is no better time to connect than when we give God praise. Let us praise God and have fun in his presence.”

On how the event came about, Pastor Emmanuel explained that it was inspired by the rising mortality rate in the entertainment industry at the time.

He said, “We started Celebrity Prayse 10 years ago. At that time, we had lost Ashley Nwosu, CD John and Christy Essien Igbokwe. It was affecting all the sectors in the industry. I was having a prayer session and God told me that I had to raise a prayer platform, else this would continue. I was in Enugu at the time and I decided to come to Lagos. It was on a flight to Lagos that I met AY the comedian and we exchanged contacts. He agreed to support the vision and that year by December 4, 2011, we had our first edition. Now we are at our 10th year and getting better.”