ACGC 2022: CHC Female Choir Emerges Winners of The Female Choir Category

 

By Chidex Onyemah

Christ Holy Church International bask in the euphoria of glory, after her All-Female Choir emerged the winners of the female choir category of the just concluded African Choral and Gospel Championship (ACGC) hosted in Rwanda's capital, Kigali.

The African Choral and Gospel Championship (ACGC) held in Rwanda from Wednesday, March 23, 2022 to Monday, 28 March, 2022, created the platform for Africa, already known for her rich and diverse cultural heritage to unite through music.The Closing Ceremony of the maiden edition of African Choral and Gospel Championship (ACGC), held in Kigali, Rwanda on Sunday, March 27, 2022, was a memorable moment for the Christ Holy Church International, as her All Female Choir, were announced winners of the female choir category championship.  

The choir which comprised exclusively screened female choristers from different superintendencies of the church, representing both the church, the Nigerian Region of the Organization of African Instituted Churches as well as Nigeria at large, competed with the Chorale de Kigali from Rwanda and Harmonious Chorale Female Chorus from Ghana. 

Gladnews reports that, the highly anticipated Pan-African Gospel Choir Festival, organized in collaboration with Chorale de Kigali, and held at the Intare Conference Arena, had in attendance, over 500 delegates from different African countries.

Speaking to Newsmen, top Ghanaian music composer and one of the festival coordinators, James Varrick, said that, the event was scheduled to hold last year in South Africa, but due to the increase in the spread of COVID-19, the organizers moved it to Kigali. 

“The plan was to hold the festival in South Africa last year; we were forced to postpone it to December after countries imposed travel bans to South Africa due to the Omicron variant. Kigali became our next option for the festival after we realized that the country’s pandemic situation was not improving,” he said. 

Varrick, the “Oye” crooner expressed gratitude to the Kigali people for accepting to host the festival at the eleventh hour. 

Oscar Irambona, the vice-president of Choral de Kigali, expressed delight with the shifting of the festival to Kigali, noting that, the Rwanda choirs would learn a lot from the gospel music experience.

His words: “We are happy that the organizers chose Rwanda. The festival will not be about performances, but also an opportunity to exchange experiences about the gospel music industry. We look forward to giving gospel music lovers an experience to remember.” 

 “During the festival, participants: both soloists and choirs, were able to participate in a series of singing competitions after which winners were rewarded with certificates and cash prizes,” Irambona said. 

Gladnews gathered that, about 15 choirs took part at the festival, they included; Harmonious Chorale, Akoo Show, Accra Diocesan, Grace Chorale, and Symphonials, all from Ghana; All-Female Choir, Bacmac Choir, and Lagos City Choir from Nigeria; Host choir Chorale de Kigali, Choeur International, Alarm Ministries, Ishema Ryacu Choir, and Ensemble Instrumentale de Kigali, among others.

In general, delegates were drawn from seven African countries, including host nation Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Togo, Cameroon, and South Africa. 

Highpoints at the festival was tour by the delegates to different part of the country, to have a glimpse of the country’s beauty.

Winners of other categories include; Nkosingiphile Lubisi (Classical Soloist Category); Bryan Aidoo (Gospel Soloist Category); Akoo Show Choir (African Folk and Traditional Chorus Category); The Symphonials (Sacred and Church Choir Category); Bokamoso Chorus (Opera Music category); Bokamoso Chorus (Open Mixed Repertoire), among others. There were also special awards to

Chorale de Kigali for having the most resplendent costume and to Heavenly Jewels Chorale for being the most represented choir in most ACGC 2022 activities.