LAST Saturday’s harvest of talent at a kiddie’s gospel music contest has lent credence to the stories of several celebrated artistes, who claimed their musical skills were horned in the church.
The Expo Hall, Eko Hotel, Lagos, was a ‘boom box’ of great melodies, great dance and acrobatics and smack on various musical instruments as children between the five to 19 years old displayed skills in a keenly contested show. There was also poem recitation and artworks display.
It was the grand finale of the Season 5 of the show, which produced five finalists out of the 25 semi-finalists, representing different age grades. They include Ikeriugwu Chibuzor Henry (5-6), Temitayo Victor Kayode (7-9), Emmanuel Naphtali & Destiny Atasi (10 12), Kola Ajisinmisolaoluwa(13 15), and Olorunrunsuyi Praise Olukemi (16-19).
Topping the chart was 17-year-old Olorunrunsuyi Praise Olukemi, a singer, who won the grand prize of N5million, and a promise of one year scholarship with the Society of Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN). Next to Praise was Kola Ajisinmisolaoluwa, a saxophonist who won N2million for coming second place, while Ikeriugwu Chibuzor Henry, a dancer came third place with a prize of N1.5million. Others are Kayode Victor Temitayo (Saxophone) – N1, 250.000 and Naphtali Emmanuel /Atasi Destiny (Dancers) N1million.
While 60 percent of the prize monies, according to organizers, will be invested in educational trust for each winner, others also got a promise of various durations of talent development packages at SPAN.
The event resonated with other guest performances by popular Gospel acts such as Frank Edwards, Sinach, past GCGT winners, Sisan Kpere-Daibo, Sam Ekeh and Egene Great. Other highlights of the programme included the launch of the first single by Sisan titled Oh Lord, produced by Don Jazzy.
Organizers say over 2000 children registered for the competition which was oversee by a panel of judges which included Joke Silva, Sarah Boulous of the Society of Performing Arts of Nigeria (SPAN), Dan Forster, Mosa, Ben Ogbeiwi, Wole Oni, Titi Masha Rachel Kerr and other personalities.
The contestants went through series of screening at various Family parishes in Nigeria, the Apapa United Kingdom, Europe and the United States of America, before arriving at the 25 that participated at the grand finale.
The GCGT is a talent development project of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Apapa family, but organizers say next year’s event would be opened to contestants from other churches other than RCCG.
The event was sponsored by Cadbury Bournvita, Stanbic IBTC, Airtel, First bank Plc, RCCG, City of David, The Riverbank School, Laterna Books, Alexander Forbes, GCGT Academy, Iluyomade and Iluyomade & Co, Digital Jewels, VDT Communications, Ruff n Tumble and many others.