By Raymond Mordi

 

The auditorium of the Theatre Arts Department, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, was enveloped by an aura of love, laughter and gaiety just before Christmas, as Glowing Channels staged its 11th annual concert, to give succour to the needy, as well as provide wholesome entertainment. The audience, made up of over 1,500 persons, mostly groups of families, sat with rapt attention for close to the five hours that the concert lasted; roaring into laughter intermittently and sometimes clapping in appreciation. 

This year`s concert, which took place under the theme, `Jubilant Soulful Vibrations`, would be fondly remembered by patrons of Glowing Channels, not only because it was taking place outside the Agip Recital Hall of the Musical Society of Nigeria, MUSON, Centre where it had traditionally been staged over the past 11 years, but also because the performances reflected more the diversity of the Nigerian society. In the past, it used to be more sombre, with more of Christmas carols and hymns, classical music, with a little sprinkling of high-life, poems, drama, whose theme revolve around Christmas.

This year`s concert brought in more drama and dance, featured a variety of artistes of varying ages, and the themes of their presentations were contemporary Nigerian. Some of the groups that made their debut in this year`s concert, which gave the event more Nigerian flavour include the Crown Troup of Africa, directed by Segun Adefila, which featured a dance drama that mirrored one of the major ills of the Nigerian society — corruption; the Footprints, a group of youngsters between the ages

of 10 and 15 who rendered the traditional Bata dance; the Ibadi Dance Ensemble, who gave the audience some terrific moments; as well as the Greenland Classics, a group directed by Iyalla Lemuel, which did three numbers, including `Peace, Be Still`.

Like previous concerts, the Sofowote family was the cynosure of all eyes. Of all the beautiful music and performances that thrilled the audience that evening the separate presentations of father and son, aptly dubbed `Scintillating Moments with Segun Sofowote` and `Up-scale Moments with Bibi` perhaps stirred more emotions than any other piece of music or dance that were featured that evening.

To the delight of the audience, the elder Sofowote`s presentations was a journey down memory lane in the sense that it brought back, for the older generation in the audience, the high-life music of the `60s in a more contemporary manner. The performance which started with a piece called `Africa is the place for me`, saw a number of people in the audience, including octogenarian Melrose Tom-George, a regular patron of the Glowing Channels concerts, taking to the floor, to relive memories of the past.

But the moment Bibisanmi, the youngest of the Sofowote siblings who is simply known as Bibi, mounted the podium with the electrifying songs and dance steps of the late Michael Jackson, the contrast between the old and the new became very obvious. There could be no better way of emphasizing this contrast by having the son perform immediately after the father left the stage. In spite of that, both were masters of their craft, but only differ in terms of their temperaments. Obviously a die-hard fan of Jackson, Bibi held the

audience spell-bound for at least 10 minutes, not only singing and dancing, but also explaining how he feels about his hero. He had a good rapport with the audience, and he took time to vent his feelings in a way that heightened expectations. The youths loved it and roared with joy and laughter in appreciation.

As it has done since 2004, Glowing Channels surprised nine persons, including two couples, who were among the 11 iconic personages celebrated that evening with an award for excellence in their different fields of endeavour. The recipients of the 2009 award are: Arunma Oteh, director-general-designate, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC; Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos State; Leo Stan Ekeh, group managing director, Zinox Computers Technologies Limited; Osayi Alile-Orueme, executive director, Fate Foundation; and Adetola Hassan, director, Health Partners Limited. The other are: Philip and Florence Jacobs, architect-builder/entrepreneur; Akinlolu and Oluyemisi Ariyo, executive directors, Open-Hands Nigeria Ltd; Ibukun Kafaru, executive director, Kjack Records Company and son of the late Elizabeth Kafaru; and Mary George, chief executive officer, Flora Enterprises. All the recipients were described as “remarkable devotees of simplicity, excellence, effectiveness and humaneness.”

Usually recipients of the organisation`s awards are not informed about this until the moment they step into the venue of the concert, but this year, two persons, Oteh, who was until her appointment as DG of SEC, vice president, Corporate Services, Africa Development Bank, ADB, Tunisia, and Governor Fashola. In Glowing Channels` reasoning, the latter had to

be informed because of the protocol of inviting such an eminent personality to the concert, while Oteh had to be notified in advance because as at the time of nominating her for the award she was not resident in Nigeria. 

According to Sofowote, Glowing Channels awards is not such where you expect Greek gift from recipients. “In fact, we discourage them from giving us anything. It`s not a ruse; so, don`t be surprised I might choose a mechanic next time, as long as this is a human being who truly lives by the laws of the Almighty Father in the sense that he loves his neighbour as himself; he is not looking to cheat, he is not greedy,” she explained.

But unfortunately she said the board of trustees is yet to hold its inaugural meeting, and that the foundation is yet to fully take off. “All the members of the board of trustees are so busy. But early in the New Year we must sit down to have that crucial meeting, so that from then each member would be absolutely committed to the charting of the course of Glowing Channels` activities. So, I`m still organising the concert on behalf of the foundation,” she said with much enthusiasm.

Proceeds of the 2009 concert would be directed towards supporting three widows, who have no less than five children each. In addition, it would also be used to continue the charity project for year 2007, namely: scholarships for three indigent undergraduates in two Nigerian universities in memory of the late Faramobi Orebiyi, a respected educationist. “For me, the concert is a call, it`s a mission; so whether I find sponsors or I don`t find sponsors, whether I have help or I don`t have help, with

the grace of the Lord, the concert series will continue,” Sofowote vowed.