Tuesday, 19th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Alabanza concert celebrates diversity, unity of Africa

By Florence Utor
29 April 2017   |   3:45 am
It was a spirit-filled atmosphere as people from all walks of life came together to experience the healing power of music at the fifth edition of Alabanza Concert, a gospel musical concert in South Africa.

The concert served as avenue to foster peace and friendship between Nigeria and South Africa by giving nationals of both countries opportunity to appreciate each other’s music and tradition under the same roof.

It was a spirit-filled atmosphere as people from all walks of life came together to experience the healing power of music at the fifth edition of Alabanza Concert, a gospel musical concert in South Africa.

Held last Sunday, at The Lyric Theatre in Gold Riff, Johannesburg, the show organised by Tehila Records also doubled as a peace concert to promote peace and unity on the African continent, especially in the light of the recent xenophobic attack on Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa.

Tagged ‘South Africa Meets Nigeria,’ the concert served as avenue to foster peace and friendship between Nigeria and South Africa by giving nationals of both countries opportunity to appreciate each other’s music and tradition under the same roof.

Beginning with the comperes, Freke Umoh (Nigeria), Loyiso Bala and Thami Ngubeni (South Africa), the event was exemplified by the variety of gospel artistes from both countries. Nigerian artistes who ministered were Enkay, Chiika 100per cent, Sammie Okposo, Chioma Jesus, Onos, Bukola Bekes.

Others were Freke Umoh, Tim Godfrey, James Okon, Tim Tehila, Annie Ibrahim and Emeka DMD. South Africa also had a very strong musical contingent at the event, with Ntokozo Mbatha, Nqubeko Mbatha, Loyiso Bala and Khaya Mthethwa performing. Others included Mabongi, Uche (Double Double), Mpume, and Mahalia Buchanan.

Convener, Alabanza Concert and CEO Tehila Records, Timothy Ogboruche, said: “I believe that if both Nigerians and South Africans can understand their differences and truly appreciate each other, they would peacefully coexist. The peace concert is, therefore, one of the ways of strengthening the principles of friendship and peace between citizens of both countries, knowing that we both gain mutually from each other.”

Meanwhile, the Alabanza Concert team paid a visit to Rosettenville, one of the communities affected by the xenophobic crisis in Johannesburg.

The team sympathised with the community and also appealed for peaceful co-existence. Community leaders received the team alongside South African police officials; they were taken on a tour to the houses burnt down during the disputes. The community leaders emphasised that they felt no hatred for their foreign neighbours, while reiterating their stance against xenophobia.

0 Comments