Rainoil
Limited, the integrated downstream oil and gas company, has commended Hymnodia
for reigniting the almost-forgotten hymn culture among young Nigerians, as it
celebrated the five finalists of the popular reality television show.
Hymnodia, which
climaxed its first season last April witnessed four other hymntestants
(contestants) demonstrate strong resolve to outwit themselves in a keenly
contested grand finale dubbed the Hymncert with Kenneth Ekhuemelo, the
bassofundo, adjudged the winner and first custodian of the ASAPH.
The other
hymntestants who made it to the grand final of the 14-week show were Olumide
Dada, the baritone singer and first runner-up, Mobolanle Oladimeji, the
architect-baker-hymn writer who came third, Abigael Nnadi and Rachael Darley.
Five of them were hosted to a special reception and dinner at Parkview Astoria
Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, July 18, 2019.
The
reception/dinner turned out to be a reunion of some sort with nine of the 12
hymntestants of the Hymnodia Season 1 present at the event and taking turns to
regale the audience with tales from the Hymnstitute and reminder hymns from
their time in the show.
The Group
Executive Director, Rainoil Limited, Mrs. Godrey Ogbechie said Philosoville
Limited, the initiators of Hymnodia, have successfully demonstrated that a
reality TV show on hymns and church music could be well structured and produced
to the admiration of a wide-ranging audience. She noted that Hymnodia has
created the desired impact which could change the perception of young Nigerians
in the art of worship.
“Hymnodia
has promoted the culture of hymns which gives in-depth knowledge and
understanding to hymns, which are not fashionable among young Nigerians.
Hymnodia has captured the interest of Christians and its worth celebrating for
redefining hymns which inspire and inculcate ethical values. I believe we
should be able to sing hymns everyday of our lives, and this has been
reinforced through Hymnodia,” she said.
The Rainoil
boss therefore urged the initiator to continue in the same stride which made
Season1 successful, as interest for the show has heightened. She invited other
corporate organisations to support the show while pledging further backing for
the programme going forward.
According to
her “all the twelve hymntestants took hymns rendition to new dimensions
throughout the competition which is worth emulating by young Nigerians. I
commend the five finalists for making it to the final out of such an intense
talent pool. The excitement and potential that Hymnodia has ignited in the
worship of God is enormous and deserves to be supported”.
While
applauding Rainoil for the reception, the initiator of Hymnodia and Managing
Director of Philosoville Limited, Kufre Ekanem commended the five finalists and
the collective efforts of all the hymntestants which led to the creation of 62
new hymns in the course of Season 1. He urged the hymntestants to utilise their
talents for gainful purposes to justify the enormous investments made to groom
them while at the Hymnstitute.
Ekanem praised
the goodwill shown by Rainoil in hosting the reception/dinner and disclosed
that though Hymnodia Season 1 may have ended, the hymn rebirth journey still
continues between the seasons. He promised an even better dimension of Triple-E
benefits (entertainment, education and edification) in Season 2 and thereafter.
Ekhuemelo,
the winner of Season 1, said the reception has helped to reunite the
hymntestants after the show. As first recipient of the ASAPH, a trophy
specially designed and named after King David’s chief musician, Ekhuemelo
disclosed that after Hymnodia Season 1, he has been more engaged in writing
hymns which would soon be recorded and released.
Hymnodia,
the fast-growing reality programme created around hymns and worship, commenced
last December 30 with a flash mob flag-off and a triple-E (entertainment, education
and edification) promise that lasted through weekly performance shows on hymns
till the grand finale, the Hymncert, which held at the Shell Hall of MUSON
Centre, Lagos on April 24, 2019.
Hymnodia was
broadcast on 10 television channels across the country with a dedicated YouTube
channel (www.youtube.com/hymnodiahq), which remains available. Recently, the
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria endorsed Hymnodia, and wished it many more
life impacting seasons.
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