– By Amonia Rita Stewart
It was scintillating evening of fanfare and heartwarming, soul lifting praise worship when the prominent Rivers state business mogul and renowned philanthropist, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs joined the hosts of “TO HIS GLORY” musical extravanganza, at the Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, as over 40 home based, Rivers born Gospel Artists entertained the sizable audience, Reggae Style, on Saturday, March 3, 2018.
The musical show tagged ” TO HIS GLORY” hosted by Eugene Abels, Komboye Sinclair and Hilda Dokubo was an extra ordinary event that brought together and showcased the musical talents and creativity of sons and daughters of Rivers State to celebrate and praise God, with the main objective of re-igniting the creative spark which once made Port Harcourt the musical and entertainment hub of Nigeria and breeding ground of creative talents who eventually spread out into places like Lagos , Abuja and the diaspora in search of recognition and a conducive atmosphere for the nurturing and acceptance of their creative gifts.
The album itself, with the acronym THG (To His Glory) was a collaborative effort produced by Sound Compound, under the excellent and well respected genius and supervision of Port Harcourt Entertainment guru cum popular society big boy Eugene Abels, ably supported by the still delectable Nollyeood screen queen Hilda Dokubo and one of the finest, most popular and nationally acclaimed post millenium musicians and entertainment ambassadors groomed in Port Harcourt; Komboye Sinclair, whose father Coach Monday Sinclair, was not only a great footballer in his day and discoverer and mentor of some of the most exciting football talents in Nigeria but arguably one of the Coaching pioneers, who introduced the tactically robust and breathtaking, sleek passing movement, football pattern that eventually revolutionized and modernised the beautiful game in Nigeria.
The musical project, according to one of the organisers, Sir Eugene Abels is intended to be a continuous process, as the album collaboration presented on the night, was just showcasing 16 out of the 40 recorded artistes. The 16 home based artistes who performed at the show and coaborated in the THG album included; Big mozy, Afy , Ujay, Karina, Pacino, Smythikal, Tyfyne, Tonye, Push, Daddy-West, as well as, Nelia, Iro, Entity, C-Strokes, Ibiso, D’antonio.
Speaking at the event, the organisers of the show said it was a night of fulfilment as the show itself and the musical album was a climax of a work that has been in progress for almost four years, recording artistes and putting the album together.
In his own comments, the special guest at the show and renowned Port Harcourt society celebrity and youth mentor, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, hailed the organizers of the show for their courageous and progressive minded objective to restore the entertainment glory of Port Harcourt, just as it used to be from the glorious highlife days when Port Harcourt was truly the beautiful Garden city, even as he pledged to continue to identify with and support efforts to discover, nurture and assist with the crusade to provide a conducive atmosphere for creative talents to thrive in Rivers state and for those who have sojourned to places like Lagos in search of fame and recognition to be accommodated and celebrated at home.
According to him, Rivers state is indeed richly blessed with talented young men and women whose creativity continues to astonish and thrill whenever they perforn and that was exactly what had happened with the performances of the evening and in the company of some of the finest musical talents produced by Rivers state, who have graced the Nigerian music industry with their talent and creativity.
Chief Dumo who was greatly thrilled to be in the company of these creative talents, said: “I am happy to be at this event which is the Gospel Reggae musical concert tagged “TO HIS GLORY” hosted by my good brothers Eugene Abels and Komboye Sinclair and my beautuful sister Hilda Dokubo.
“The event has once again reaffirmed my belief and conviction that Our dear Rivers state is made up beautiful and wonderful people and we have talents and creativity flowing in abundance, especially in our young people.
“I have always felt that there is something that has been missing in all our ministries. When you go to church and get healed, it is for your benefit. When you hear the word it is also for your benefit. But when you praise God, that is for God and to Him be all the Praise and Honour. There is nothing God cannot do and the only thing He expects us to do for Him is to praise Him.
“The event tagged ‘TO HIS GLORY’ is a faith based project that began with praising God, therefore the objective of the project shall be met. There is nothing that cannot be achieved, once you bring faith into it and believe that God can do it.
“It is said that the faithful see the invisible, they believe the incredible and receive the impossible. Impossible is but a word, and with this event we have begun to demonstrate that nothing is impossible. The whole exercise was intended to bring back the glory of Rivers State
and with this show, we have begun to demonstrate that nothing is impossible.
“The whole exercise was intended to bring back the glory of Rivers State. We were once known as the people of hospitality, the people of creativity, but sadly we are beginning to lose all of that, so I am happy that we are finding our way back to God and our state, with an event like this.
“We will continue to assist and encourage the talents and creativity of our young people at home, support the efforts to create a conducive environment to bring back our creative talents who are now thriving in diaspora and make Rivers state the entertainment hub of Nigeria, once again.
“To His Glory, Hallelujah. Hallelujah, to His Glory”, the great Rivers state son and well respected Port Harcourt concluded eloquently.
The highlight of the pulsating evening of beautiful live musical renditions, which was Mastered by the beautiful Nollywood Diva, veteran yet still stunning stage and screen actress and of course an original Port Harcourt girl, Hilda Dokubo, as well as K. O. Baba, as Anchors, and had other prominent guests like Honourable Enemi George, Bishop and Mrs Abiye Carrie, Davies Okarel and Bishop Norman Jonah, amongst others, in attendance, was the presentation of a gospel reggae musical album which 16 Artists and 16 Songs packaged in a hybrid fusion of ragga funk blended with the well known rhythmic acoustics of popular reggae standards that has thrilled port Harcourt music lovers over the years.
Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow Africa Update Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!