The Choir of Bishop Ajayi Crowther Memorial Anglican Church, Gowon Estate, Lagos, led by Sir Kelechi Agu, is set to release a music book that tells the story of slave trade, using the legendary Bishop Ajayi Crowther, as peg.

Titled: “Samuel Ajayi Crowther: The Slave Trade Untold Story,” the 25-chapter book gives a clinical excursion into slave trade, aside providing insight into the life of the Ajayi Crowther, the first African Bishop, reputed for his great evangelical works. The legendary Bishop is known to have translated the English Bible into Yoruba language, beyond that he influenced virtually every part of Nigeria with the gospel.

He was the first to have translated the Bible into Igbo language and had done a lot in the evangelisation of the whole country and beyond. He literally gave his life for the gospel.

Commenting on the new book, which is a blend of music and literature, Sir KelechiAgu stated that the collection was born out of the desire of BACMAC choir to spread the gospel and also to showcase the life and times of men of faith that have long passed on.

Agu said: “The book reflects the story of his birth, to his enslavement, redemption, consecration and missionary impact. It offers a musical reflection on his journey, while shedding light on overlooked aspects of the transatlantic slave trade and God’s sovereign grace through it all.”

According to Agu, the musical notes were composed by Chibuikem Onwumere, while the book took the choir three years to put together.

“We travelled far and dug into the archives to get information that is not common. Many people don’t know about the family life of Ajayi Crowther. Many also do not know that his wife was also a slave whose original name was Ashana before she got the name Susan, while Ajayi was Christened Samuel.”

Agu, who described the work as both academic and a musical collection, said the book serves a dual purpose.
“For every chapter there is literature telling the story and then the music comes after to demonstrate the story,” Agu said.

While praising the effort of Ajayi Crowther, he emphasised that he was a man like no other, adding that he deserved to be celebrated for a lifetime.

He said: “Ajayi Crowther embodies the story of slave trade, but beyond that he helped to consolidate the Christian faith in Africa. It was his coming that made it easy for the gospel to be easily acceptable by Africans. He also brought dynamism to the Anglican Church and introduced the beating of drums to the church, which almost led him to be ostracised.”

Agu said the book, which was dedicated to the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, The Rt. Rev James Odedeji, will be unveiled on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at a press conference and would be online for sale and subsequently be launched in a number of places, including the BACMAC, the Diocese of Lagos West. It will also be presented to the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Most Revd Henry Ndukuba.

Agu stressed that with this feat, BACMAC Choir has earned for itself a global reputation, taking music from Nigeria to the world stage.

He disclosed that the choir holds a music festival every year and has consistently represented Nigeria in many choral events across Africa and beyond.

He noted that that the choir represented Nigeria at the Africa Choral Gospel Championship in Rwanda (2020), winning two silver medals; “Africa Sings” in Togo (2021) and the Benin Republic (2022) and hosted the Church Music Convocation and Festival in Africa, drawing choirs from over 14 African nations to worship through hymns, chants and classical anthems in 2023.

In 2024 and 2025 the choir got invitations to the World Choir Games in New Zealand and the Commonwealth Choral Festival in Milton Keynes, UK. The most recent was in June 10–17, 2025.

Over the years it has been committed to musical evangelism and has earned several awards including: Two-time Best Choir in Alimosho (Lagos State), Most Artistic Choir – Nigeria Choral Music Awards. It also got the Best Performing Choir – Lagos State Awards and Award of Choral Excellence – National Hymn Festival.