The organiser of Kalabari Praise Festival, an annual programme in Kalabari land says that the programme is meant to celebrate the blessings of God upon Kalabari Land.
According to Pastor Selema Wokoma, Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of Kalabari Times, the Kalabari Praise Festival will be an annual programme that will rotate among Kalabari communities and towns, beginning with the maiden edition holding at Owukori Square, Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of the State, on November 30, 2019, tagged: Kalabari Praise Festival – The Akulga Experience, with the theme: Geletein Tamuno (The Most High God).
At a stakeholders/planning committee meeting held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, 19th November, the Kalabari Times publisher said the praise festival is an idea dropped by God a few months ago for the purpose of using it as a platform to thank him for all the things he has done for the Kalabari Ethnic Nationality amid the challenges the area has faced over the years.
“Since after the Nigerian Civil War, Kalabari land have faced a lot of challenges socially, economically, politically, developmentally, religiously and otherwise but God, in his infinite mercies, has always seen us through them all.
“As a confirmation of God’s glory upon Kalabari Land, many great men of God has also visited our land in the past one year, the most recent being Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) World-Wide, who held a historic crusade in Abonnema on Friday, 15th November, thus divinely clearing the coast for the Kalabari Praise Festival which we believe will be the most perfect way to thank God for all the great things he has done for us,” Pastor Selema Wokoma further explained.
A press statement signed by Kelechi Asogwa-Amadi, publicity secretary of the Kalabari Praise Festival planning committee, a copy of which was made available to our medium, notes that the Kalabari Praise Festival has already received the royal blessings of the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, His Majesty, King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Ekineye Gbobo II, Owukori IX, Chairman, AKULGA Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs.
The Abonnema King, on Friday, October 4, unveiled the logo of the event in his palace in Abonnema when members of the planning committee paid him a courtesy visit, while the Abonnema Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs endorsed the programme on Saturday, October 5, at Otaji Memorial Hall, Abonnema.
The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Mrs Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, a daughter of Kalabari Land, is among the special guests expected at the event.
Some of the gospel musicians expected at the event are Preye Odede, Afi Douglas, Wisdom K., the Akulga Royal Praise Band and a host of other anointed gospel artistes.
All indigenes and residents of Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas in particular and Rivers State in general are also expected to grace the Kalabari Praise Festival en masse.
