NaijaGospelBeats Naija Gospel Music Hub
After 2years away from the Tafawa Balewa Square, the experience was an experience to behold
Constantly cementing it’s legacy as one of the biggest gospel concert in the world, The Experience 17 was nothing short of amazing with mind-blowing performances from Music Ministers across the globe. In a stadium full of hungry hearts and yearning souls, The Experience was in indeed an experience, with various aspects of the event carefully organised, performers putting in their all and a audience hungry for more after over 10hours of prayer, laughter, worship & praise.
Denomination notwithstanding, it’s difficult to deny the unity in the Faith every first Friday of December the past 16 years and particularly this year as millions gather with one voice to raise a sound unto God. From the Pentecostal to the catholics and even orthodox, there is an evident love for God and His Church.
It was a grand atmosphere with solid sound, great lighting and of course the perfect stage. Let’s have a breakdown of various parts of the event in no particular order:
- The Prayers: When most people hear of the experience perhaps they pay more attention to the music, but part of what makes the Experience an unforgettable one is also the prayers. With various Pastors/church leaders coming up at intervals, the Experience 17 prayers focused more on our Nation Nigeria and her people, and if you are a citizen of Nigeria, you know more than anyone that we need it in such a time. It was a great sight seeing the body of Christ hold our beloved country high up in prayers with one voice.
- The comic-relief (Comedy): If you have never laughed while at the TBS for Experience or while watching via Livestream, that’s probably because at intervals when comedians come up on stage, you are absent-minded or sleeping and we totally get it, the Experience run for hours but part of what makes it worthwhile are Comedians coming up on stage as interjections. This year’s Experience had performances from comedians like MC Abbey, Funnybone, LarryJ, Kennyblaq, Damola and Akpororo who took a funny swipe at the Presidential Candidates present at the event. Though they had little time to perform, the comedians had a very positive impact on the experience 17.
- The Music: Perhaps the part we have all been waiting for, The Experience is a grand stage where music ministers from across the world come to praise God and lead God’s people in a time of fellowship with Him.
Experience 17 had lots of ministers grace the stage and we analyse in few words. It starts with the host choir Lagos Metropolitan Gospel Choir leading the congregation in an intense moment of worship and praise, followed by ministration from the ministrel, Eno Micheal who takes the momentum higher. Preye Odede comes up next to further the worship and it was a phenomenal session and right after, the Alagbara crooner Onos Ariyo takes up the baton leading worshippers in moments of exhilarating worship.
Prominent media personality and music minister, Muyiwa Olanrewaju and Tim Hughes declares the blessing upon Experience 17 in songs just before MC Abbey relieved with comics.
As the program progresses, it gets more intense as Moses Bliss alongside his band comes to declare amazingly ‘we are getting bigger’. Eben takes over right after and boy it took another turn, it was a fierce and energetic session and worthy of mention are his Background Vocalists and his musicians (especially his bassist who tore the roof off).
When it comes to indigenous songs, it’s no news that Tope Alabi stands tall and her ministration at the experience 17 is a testament to that fact. Sinach did not only follow the flow but also took us deeper into the realm where sounds are raised right after Tope Alabi. The female power houses with a back to back session.
The convener of The Experience comes up on stage right after to address the crowd of worshippers and notably pay tributes to The late music maestro and The Experience alumni Sammie Okposo. Then the national anthem which was rendered by Minister Segun Obe, Minister Eno Micheals, Pastor Nathieniel Bassey on the trumpet, Minister Precious Emmanuel and Minster Chee. On the first rendition there seemed to be a little glitch with the sound but after it was rectified, the National Anthem was rendered again and it was nothing short of amazing, little wonder really because Paul Adefarasin doesn’t play down on excellence,if it has to be done,then it must be done well.
The next minister after a short word charge by Pastor Paul Adefarasin was Mercy Chinwo, and right after the experience a couple of comments struck me, here’s the summary, the growth of Mercy Chinwo’s band was terrific, every song we know felt new and more beautiful. Few moments later, Pastor Donnie Mcclurkin takes over with sweet and soft worship to God setting the atmosphere for Nathaniel Bassey who rejigs the atmosphere into deep Koinonia with God in a solemn moment of worship.
It was an atmosphere fit for Chandler ‘Oluwafemi’ Moore to turn things up in praise and worship and it was such a pleasure to see Chandler sing our local worship songs on a global stage. Phil Thompson then leads us to surrender in worship, helping to intensify the fragrance of our worship. It looked like a back to back session from ministers across the oceans as Travis Greene came up next to stir things up for one of the most anticipated session, Dunsin Oyekan. The Eagle as he is fondly called left no room for the enemy as he raised worship and praise carrying the audience along on the journey. One of the highlights of the night was Chandler Moore and Travis Greene joining Dunsin up on stage to do the now popular ’Gbope wa, Gbayin wa’ dance. It was a pleasurable moment just before he wrapped up his ministration.
It’s a common saying that you save the best for the last, perhaps that saying has become a cliche that a lot of people take it for granted but Mr M and Revelation were sure on a mission to revived the potency of the statement. Their ministration literally took the end of TE17 to a climax with people “loosing their home training” with unconventional dance steps and an atmosphere still wanting more after the end. It was a glorious way to end the concert.
All music minister were phenomenal and no doubt were divinely selected.
- The Media & Sound: With seamless streaming and a near perfect sound, these two departments played a major role in the success of the event. Of course at certain points there were few glitches but they were immediately rectified. The response to complaints were also smooth and rapid.
- Costume: Everyone came correct and beautifully dressed but I’d summarize with a quote from a social media user about the Experience 17 “More kingdom stylists are needed at the Experience and for now use the ones that we have now’ SELAH
The Experience was an intense and firm reminder that when the body of Christ comes together there’s always a major shift in the atmosphere and Experience 17 laid emphasis on a shift in our Nation, hence at NaijaGospelbeat we are confident that a new Dawn is upon us as a nation.
Review written by our in-house music journo Meka Mua (@themekamua) & Edited by Babatope Adefunmilayo (@iambabatope)
