Ajumogobia Memorial Concert… Serenading Lagosians Into Christmas
LAST Tuesday a section of Lagos audience had a moment of enchanting music when it was treated to the Ajumogobia Science Foundation memorial concert at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. It clocked 10. This year’s concert, like the others before it, was a perfect way to get the audience in a ready mood for the Christmas.
Four children – two girls, two boys performed ‘I’ll give Him My Heart’ and their story resonated among the audience, as it was unique and moving. It awakened the audience members to the many ways they, too, could praise and worship God through their diverse talents. The youngest of the girls (about six years old) showed her dexterity on the piano to stun the audience; it was her way of giving praise to God until the two boys joined in, with the little one giving his heart in praise of his maker.
A procession of other youngsters, clad in white and bearing candles, came to also lend a halloo to the performance. It was an emotional performance complete with all the innocence of children seeping through to challenge probable adult laziness. It was followed by ‘O Come, All ye faithful’ that had the audience singing along.
With Nimi Akinkugbe on the piano, Yinka Davies took ‘O Holy Night’ to the audience and made a few members sing it, with some croaking it. It energised the audience in its sheer hilarity and novelty. Thereafter, the duo of Dein and Awuneba Ajumogobia, husband and wife, intensified the concert offering, as they sang ‘Holy is the Lamb,’ with Dein on the piano. It was sheer spectacle watching the pair perform.
Then svelt Kaline (Akinkugbe), with her fluffy mane that framed her petite face, came from among the audience and sang ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ up to the dais. Thereafter she sat down to the piano and performed her now famous track ‘Bring them home’ in honour and solidarity with the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls. With the song, she said, she wished to raise awareness about the plight of the girls to the wider world so they are not forgotten. Described as having “a fresh, bold, soulful, funky sound, she writes with purpose in the hope of empowering anyone that listens to her music,” Kaline’s music has power to move listeners to deep wells of emotions.
With ‘Amin Jesu Olugbala’ and ‘Me, I Love My Country’ by Wole Soyinka, rendered by the Merrymaker Choir in African traditional notes. It came with youngsters also displaying various Nigerian ethnic dances. Also, the ASF divas, Yinka Davies, Faith Igwe and Kaline performed ‘Silver Bells’ and ‘Little Drummer Boy’ before Kenneth Ogbeiwi did ‘Gbo Ohun,’ with the audience singing along. ‘O happy Day’ also had the audience singing along in participatory, jolly mood.
Soboma Ajumogobia gave the vote of thanks before all the performers came on stage to perform ‘All You Need Is Love,’ as a fitting finale to an evening of enchanting performance. They then bowed out after what was, unarguably, a memorable concert that will trend for a long time.
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