Akwa Ibom State Government Online logo Akwa Ibom State
 
::You are here: Skip Navigation LinksHome>Government>Papers>9,300 Carol Singers World Record        
Akwa Ibom State Produces 9,300 Carol Singers, The Largest in the World

When this is placed side by side with His Excellency's agenda on unity which says thus "When a people become one, whatever they imagine to do is done. I am committed to restoring our state and people to the position our forebears took us in their era, when we were acknowledged in the Nigerian configuration as the 4th largest tribe." it is plain for all to see how we got here and where we are going.

 

Articles
Dec, 26 2008: Akwa Ibom eyes world record with mammoth choir...more
Dec, 23 2008: AKSG to feature 9,300-man choir to sing Christmas Carols...more
Dec, 23 2008: Nigerian breaks seven-year record in American university ...more
Aug, 28 2008: A-Ibom records 50,000 Bakassi returnees ...more

 

 
Come 26th December, 2008 Akwa Ibom State Government will make history for assembling 9,300 carol singers, the largest ever The road to the record breaking attemp is from the traditional assemblage of carol singers by the Akwa Ibom State Government annually

Overview

Every December, the Akwa Ibom State Government organizes a Carol Night to mark the birth of Jesus Christ, the emancipator of humankind, the author and finisher of the christian faith; and uses the occasion to call on the citizenry to emulate Christ's fine examples of humility, sinlessness and a deep respect for constituted Authority. As a community service, the Government uses the Annual Carol event to urge the Youths of the State to engage themselves in decent and meaningful ventures in the bid to become better citizens of the World.

 

By taking this year's event higher and making this a world record attempt, the global awareness efforts of the people at GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS and seeks to use the World Record Attempt to further reposition our dear State as a Destination as well as put Akwa Ibom in the path of a positive global reckoning.

 

We found out that bringing together 10 choir groups from all 31 local government areas making 310 groups and each providing 30 singers we have a shot at a world record with 9,300 singers (310 X 30).

 

The last world record was checked out at 7,514 on December 3, 2004. Therefore we are seeing the 2008 Carol Night of the Akwa Ibom state Government in a Digital dimension.

How We Got Here

Previously, citizens and guests gather for a carol night at government house. The carols used to be rendered by about 12 Uyo based choir groups excluding other well inspired choristers from other LGAs.

 

With the Government of Chief Godswill Akpabio comes the agenda of unity where the policy of inclusion reigns supreme and so in this season of love it is expected that the traditional Akwa Ibom State Government Carol Night will not be conducted to the exclusion of any local government area of the state but all will come sing to God Almighty with one voice showcasing the true meaning of "Akwa Abasi Ibom" (meaning Great God of Heaven) and there lies the vision that built the road leading to the Guinness World Record attempt.

 

Media

The Event will be televised Live on the Network Service of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA (Africa's Largest Television Network), and Live on the African Independent Television (AIT). Also, Live Telecast will be made on the State TV Station, the AKBC - TV, Channel 45, as well as a live relay on the State Radio, Radio Akwa Ibom FM 90, Uyo.

Editors, correspondents and Reporters from not less than 10 National Dailies will be present. Editors from Nigeria's foremost weekly Newsmagazine, NEWSWATCH, will also be at the event which is hosted solely by the Akwa Ibom State Government, under the able and forward - looking leadership of the executive Governor, His Excellency, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio. It is a World Class Tourist act!!!

Behind The Scenes

Organizer:
Aniekpeno Mkpanam (Akwa Ibom State Director of Protocol)

Conductor:
Joseph Akpan, a world renowned conductor from Salvation Army who has even performed at Westminster Abbey

Independent Auditors:
Ademola & Dafinone & Co.

International Auditors:
Alexander Forbes

Video:
NTA, AKBC, and Ace Productions

Photography:
Abasifreke Bassey

Video Streaming:
Digital Generation Systems Ltd.

Sound Engineering:
Life Tone Music  and Risen Voice

Electrical Engineering:
Jackey Jay Nigeria Ltd.

Instrumentation:
Chufrey Nigeria Ltd.

Decoration:
Barbina Rental Services

Cleaning:
Stadium Personnel

Internet Service:
Webcenta

Facilities

Environment: Uyo Stadium with 10,000 terrace sitting and 6,000 grand stand with 4 sets of flood lighting

Security: Akwa Ibom State Police Command

Health: University of Uyo Teaching Hospital

Projection: 4 piece 20ft X 10ft double sided giant screens

Video: 4 Professional Cameras and 2 HDV Cameras

Still Pictures: Nikon D40

Speakers: 65 pieces Peavey, Spirit, and Wharfedale Pro speakers each of 1,200W to 3,200W

Amplification: 4-level amplification through 28 amplifiers delivering a combined nominal output of 22,000W

Microphones: 167 pieces

Cabling: 32Km length of cabling

Flowers: 8,300 stalks

Linen: 11,802 meters of white, indigo, green, red, orange satin

Band: 50 piece brass band playing from a 30ft X 40ft platform

Conduction: Conducts from a 6ft podium

Voices: 9,300 choral singers

Dressing: Branded Guinness Shirts and black trouser or skirt

Participation: 31 Local Government Areas with each forwarding 10 choir groups msking 310 choir masters

The Process of Breaking the World Record with 9,300 Carol Singers

How We will Break the World Record on 26th December 2008

Photos From the Gallery
You don't just break a world record, there are people who are global authorities and they will give you a set of rules to follow.
  1. Get the idea
  2. Contact Guinness online
  3. Guinness makes the category open
  4. Is the record viable?
  5. Who is breaking the record?
  6. How is the record going to be broken?
  7. What is it based on?
  8. Why are you breaking the record?
  9. Gather evidence of the record breaking process with spelt out names and signatures
  10. Provide independent auditors
  11. Provide international auditors
  12. Safety of the environment

 

Having rigorously followed the process leading to the breaking of a most prestigious Guinness world record we can say authoritatively that Akwa Ibom State is about to project to the world a phenomenal event, a spectacle to behold, a day the Angels long to see, a redefinition of carol singing.

 

This event is an illustration of the new Akwa Ibom State which was built by the people on the April 14, 2007 ballot with an unparalleled tidal wave of solidarity and support.

 

The greatest carol singing event of all time the world over is about to take place. Merry Christmas, enjoy the peace of the season and goodwill towards men.
  • 8.00 am Head count
  • 3.00 pm Rehearsal and sound check
  • 4.00 pm Stadium opens to visitors
The 9,300 singers will sing 10 traditional English carols, there will in addition be vernacular carols rendered in the language of the Akwa Ibom people.

When the record gets broken we want to be seen as having elevated participative governance to a new level as all Akwa Ibom people will be involved in the process, your local government will be there, your sister, brother, or cousin or even neighbour will be there to sing to the glory of God and bring heaven to Akwa Ibom State. It is a testimony to volunteerism.

The sound engineers are on ground and will give the event the best acoustic platform, the sound quality so far from testing is terrific.

The arena will be decorated to represent heaven on earth as the greatest carol singing ever to be attempted by mankind takes place.

There will be no gate fees but you have to come on time. If you can't come on time there will be live telecast on TV radio and even at Ibom Plaza.

The conductor, Joseph Akpan will conduct the 50 piece brass band which the 9,300 voices will follow and thus break the Guinness world record.		 His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio delivering a groundbreaking speech to the gathering on unity, peace and purposeful living The conductor, Joseph Akpan, energising the singing with body language stronger than voice, visually appealing, as if applying symetry and shapping effortlessly directing and modulating the singing of all the parts and all keys by the 9,300 powerful chori The brass band plays melodiously as the 9,300 choristers follow graciously, the music is awesome, a spectacle to behold, an unimaginable effect envolopes the stadium. The conductor, Joseph Akpan, mounts the podium and motions the brass band commencing the singing of carols for the night Their Excellencies, The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Deputy Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio and Engr. Patrick Ekpotu sing the song "One Love" by Bob Marley together The Bishop of Uyo Diocese addressing the gathering The audience sings the opening hymn The choristers get ready to deliver the main event of the evening Balloons flow into the evening sky as the carol night event where 9,300 carol singers will break a Guinness world record is launched and declared open by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State Obong Godswill Akpabio about to cut the tapes launching the carol night where 9,300 singers will break the Guiness world record Religious leaders present at the occassion of the occassion of the record breaking 9,300 carol singers A word of prayer for the event The Director of Protocol and organiser of the event, Aniekpeno Mkpanam, addresses the gathering Miss Akwa Ibom State Miss Akwa Ibom State The Excellencies, The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio (middle) The Deputy Governor, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu (left) and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Ignatius Edet (right) stand to the singing of the national anthe The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio, with the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Ignatius Edet take their seat at the event The Executive Governor addressing participating choir members at the event His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State Obong Godswill Akpabio being led to take his seat at the 9,300 singer carol night event His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio and the Secertary to the State Government, Obong Umana O. Umana being welcomed by the Director of Protocol and oganizer of the 9,300 carol singer Guinness world record break Arrival of His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State at the venue of the event of 9,300 carol singers that broke the Guinness world record
There will be comfortable sitting for all as Akwa Ibom State breaks a world record Christmas decorations will be splashed all over the stadium in the spirit of Christmas Arrangements are in top gear and no one should be left out. The gates are free but there will also be a live telecast

Record Filling Details Submitted to Guinness World Records
Claim Title: Largest Group of Carol Singers

Country: Nigeria

City/Town/Village: Uyo (Capital of Akwa Ibom State)

Date of attempt: 26/ 12/ 2008

OUR RECORD: Largest Group of Carol Singers ever assembled on the face of the planet.

WHO IS ATTEMPTING? 9,300 Youth Choristers, drawn from all the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria's 21st State are featuring in the Record Attempt. 30 Choristers each are from 10 Villages per Local Government Area, which makes it 310 Choir groups in 31 places and which brings the Grand Total of participating Choristers to 9,300 (Nine Thousand, Three Hundred).

HOW WILL THEY DO IT? The 9,300 Choristers will sing 10 World Standard Traditional Christmas Carols in English Language non-stop from the First to the Last song. They will be timed by a lone Conductor and accompanied by a 50-piece brass band.

The Carol Choir will be seated neatly on specially arranged rows in the 25,000 seater Uyo Township Stadium. In attendance to address the peolple and officially flag off the World record attempt, will be His Excellency, the State's Executive Governor Chief Godswill Akpabio and Wife, Unona Ekaette, the Governors of Cross River, Abia, Rivers and Bayelsa States; Members of the Federal and state Legislatures; The state Executive Council, Ambassadors and Foreign Envoys, Top functionaries and reprehensives of Federal and State Governments, Chairmen of Local Government Areas, Chiefs, Senior citizens, Clergymen, Elders, Women and the youth. The event will be beamed live on the Nation's top 2 Networks - the NTA and AIT, plus the local TV and Radio Stations - AKBC- TV 45 and Radio Akwa Ibom FM 90.5; and attended by a full compliment of the National Media.

WHAT IS THE RECORD BASED ON?: We are aiming to break the previous World record of Largest Group of Carol singers which is 7,514 carollers set, on December 3, 2004 at Bob Jones University, South Carolina, USA. We will have on ground Independent Actuaries from Alexander Forbes at the venue of the World record attempt to assist the Adjudicators from Guinness in the process of verifying and authenticating our claim. 		WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?: Every December, The State Government organises a carol Night to mark the birth of Jesus Christ, the emancipator of humankind, the Author and finisher of the Christian Faith; and uses the occasion to call on the citizenry to emulate Christ's fine examples of humility, sinlessness and a deep respect for constituted authority. As a community service, the Government uses the Annual Carol event to urge the Youths of the state to engage themselves in decent and meaningful ventures in the bid to become better citizens of the world. BY TAKING THIS YEAR'S EVENT HIGHER AND MAKING THIS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT, The State Government identifies with the Global Awareness efforts of the people at GUINESS WORLD RECORDS and seeks to use the World Record attempt to further reposition our State as a Destination as well as put Akwa Ibom in the path of a positive Global reckoning.

Adjudication Information requested Media: The Event will be televised Live on the Network service of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA,(Africa's Largest Television Network) and Live on the African Independent Television, (AIT). Also, Live Telecast will be made on the state TV station, the AKBC-TV, Channel 45, as well as a live relay on the State Radio, Radio Akwa Ibom FM 90, Uyo. Editors, Correspondents and reporters from not less than 10 National Dailies will be present.

Editors from Nigeria's foremost weekly Newsmagazine, NEWSWATCH, will also be at the event which is hosted solely by the Akwa Ibom State Government, under the able and forward-looking leadership of the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio.

This event is not in aid of Charity

25th December, 2008
     
 Copyright © 2008 Akwa Ibom State Government