Nigerian music director praises South Africa’s World Choir Games

“Kudos to the organisers of the 10th World Choir Games – the Interkultur, African Cultural Development Foundation, Gauteng Tourism Authority and the City of Tshwane – for their conviction that peace and unity of the world could be achieved through the sweet concord of choral music,” Nwokedi said in an official statement for the Nigerian contingent.

At the festival, Nwokedi said that more African countries should be represented at the World Choir Games. He lamented the paucity of African representation, advising the organisers to use popular media internationally to enhance the visibility of the global project.

This, he said, would “evoke interest which will subsequently attract sponsorship for African choirs to the World Choir Games”. He also called on the organising body, Interkultur, to consider hosting an African Choir Games, as European and Asian Choir Games were already in existence.

In keeping with the World Choir Games theme of building bridges through choral music, an event tagged the African Mayoral Legacy Concert emphasised social cohesion and new bonds of friendship. Nigeria’s contribution via two renditions by the Lagos City Chorale was greeted with an ovation. The group later met with the mayor.

It was at the meeting of the World Choir Council at Tshwane House that Emeka Nwokedi spoke about the relative absence of African representatives.

At the meeting, he also expressed hope that Nigeria would host the African Choir Games in the future, as his country, he said, was a singing nation with choirs successfully participating at international choral festivals and competitions.

While it is unclear if Nigeria would consider hosting the games, the country was represented at this year’s event by five choirs: Lagos City Chorale, Mountain Top Chorale, New Wine Chorale, Musica Casa and Riverbank School Choir. Nwokedi is the musical director of the Lagos City Chorale.

According to the statement, the five Nigerian Choirs won laurels (silver and gold) in different categories.

“We once again stress the importance of the choral arts which is the soul of every culture and urge our governments and corporate bodies to give support to the world’s choral movement which will help in no small way in lifting out nation and uniting the world just like football and other sporting events,” Nwokedi said.