Buchi thrills at Calabar Festival

Thousands of fun-seekers at the Calabar Festival were yesterday left asking for more after Nigeria’s gospel sensation, Buchi performed some of his hit songs.
It was a stella performance by the gospel, whose rendition of his well known reggae gospel tunes left the crowd drooling for more.
He was the main act at a choral competition tagged Voices of Paradise, which featured ten choirs.
A night earlier Calabar a world Aids charity concert to create awareness as well as sensitize people against stigmatization of HIV/AIDS victims, was held.
Speaking at the concert tagged “Candle light Memorial,“ which South Africa’s ace trumpeter, Hugh Musekela performed at the Millennium Park, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Efiok Cobham, said the occasion was symbolic because it was a reflection of how the world would look like without AIDS.
Cobham commended the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, who was the brain behind the concert, for ensuring that people, especially those living with HIV/AIDs get access to medicine.
He maintained that in the fight against AIDS, every body is a stakeholder.
He called on the audience to support Mrs.Imoke by contributing a token to save a life and commended those who sponsored the concert as AIDS is the highest killer disease in south Saharan Sub Region.
The Director General, SACA, Dr. (Mrs.) Irene Aniyom, urged the audience to take responsibility for the prevention of HIV, and provision of care and support to the infected.
Aniyom disclosed that a research on mode of transmission showed that everyone is at risk, especially people in seemingly stable relationships and “if we do not remember anything else, we should remember that everyone is at risk”.
The Executive Director Partnership Opportunities for Women Economic Realization (POWER) a pet project of Mrs. Imoke, Mrs. Tammie Kammonke, said the organisation has been at the forefront of educating and enlightening women who appear to be the most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS related issues.
Not even the early evening drizzle could dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd at the Millennium Park as people jumped and sang along with Buchi when he rendered popular tunes from his album, “It is well”.
Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Larry Odey and wife could not resist the moving performance as they joined in dancing and waving to the songs which were spiced with songs from an Abuja- based gospel artiste, Amara.
The choral competition, which featured 10 choirs had six namely; EPF Accapella Group, The Presbyterian Bells, St. Cecilia’s, St Paul’s, St. Bendard, Immaculate Conception, and Holy Ghost Choirs moved to the next level of the competition.