Methodist council of knights celebrates 10th annual choral day

The Methodist Church Nigeria Council of Knights, Lagos and Lagos Mainland chapters, has celebrated its 10th Annual Choral Day with a call to preserve the church’s rich musical heritage and promote the use of sacred music to inspire worshippers and foster national unity.

The event, held at Ereko Methodist Cathedral on October 1, 2026, was themed “My Defender, Refuge and Strength”.

A 65-member choir, conducted by the Grand Concert Choirmaster, Sir Dr Soji Onafowokan, led the congregation through an afternoon of hymns, descants, chants, anthems and other musical performances.

The celebration brought together members of the church and lovers of classical and sacred music to appreciate the role of music in worship, cultural preservation and national development.

In her goodwill message, the Chairperson of the Council of Knights, Lagos Chapter, Princess Adetope Tychus, expressed gratitude to God for the successful celebration, noting that music remained an important instrument of ministry in the church.

“Music has a unique ministry in the church. Through sacred harmonies and heartfelt worship, our voices become instruments of praise, encouragement and proclamation,” she said.

Tychus emphasised the spiritual significance of music, noting that choral performances provided an avenue for worshippers to express their faith and draw inspiration from the messages conveyed through songs.

Speaking on the rationale behind the annual programme, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Sir Teju Ogunjimi, said it was designed to prevent the Methodist Church’s musical heritage from fading into obscurity.

“The purpose of this choral programme is to ensure that the Methodist heritage of music, hymns and chants does not go into oblivion,” he said.

Ogunjimi noted that although classical music might appear sophisticated to contemporary audiences, its enduring value and adaptability made it relevant across generations.

He stressed the need to sustain interest in traditional church music and expose younger generations to its richness and historical significance.

Also speaking with New Telegraph, Sir Kayode Adeluola, SAN, said classical music remained relevant in contemporary society, adding that musical traditions could evolve to accommodate changing tastes without losing their essential qualities.

“There are a lot of musical talents among people living in contemporary times. It is something you cannot actually exclude, particularly when you go to a musical,” he said.

Adeluola explained that traditional music also offered opportunities for creative adaptation, noting that some traditional musical pieces could be arranged to suit classical tempos and rhythms.

“Classical music can be adapted to the contemporary world. What we consider contemporary today may become ancient and dated in the future,” he said.

He maintained that musical traditions were part of an enduring historical process that should be preserved rather than abandoned, adding that the relationship between classical and contemporary music demonstrated the ability of music to transcend generations.

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The Secretary of the Planning Committee, Sir Oluwatosin Olaniyan, said the programme also served as a source of inspiration and encouragement, particularly through the messages contained in the songs.

According to him, the lyrics of many classical and sacred songs convey important lessons about freedom, solidarity and commitment to the nation.

“The programme encourages people to be ministered to and inspired by the songs because their words carry great messages. We have the opportunity to sing songs that speak of freedom and solidarity with our country,” he said.

Olaniyan added that the experience was intended to leave participants energised and motivated to contribute positively to national development.

“By the time we are done, people are energised to go out there and do something good for the nation,” he said.

In his remarks, the Grand Concert Choirmaster, Sir Dr Soji Onafowokan, described the 10th anniversary as evidence of God’s grace and a testament to the growth of the initiative over the years.

“Ten years is grace. It has been a journey of faith, growth and excellence. To be the Concert Choirmaster of this glorious concert is a privilege I do not take for granted,” he said.

Onafowokan explained that what began as a vision had developed into a platform that brought together talented singers from different Methodist churches to perform as one choir.

“What started as a vision has become a movement that unites the best voices from different Methodist churches to sing as one choir,” he said.

He added that the choir had continued to improve in performance and musical excellence, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to lead the anniversary concert.

“We have grown from good to better, and from better to excellent,” Onafowokan said.

The 10th Annual Choral Day celebration underscored the importance of sustaining the Methodist Church’s musical heritage while using choral music to deepen worship, encourage fellowship and promote values that contribute to the development of society.