CHRONICLES OF THE FAIRY GOD SISTER – JAM MEGA FEST!

I’m at JAM and against my better judgment, I’m writing. Ok, the reason for this chronicle is simple – every other day I’m chronicling some horrible trip, funny experience, harrowing date, whatever. How about I take you through JAM (especially if you couldn’t make it)?

Ok, so we started with an opening prayer and the person leading made everyone say a prayer for Nigeria (extremely necessary if you ask me)! Let me digress (but only if you want to see it as that); it’s always amazing what House on The Rock does with Eagles Square every time they use it for JAM. The sound was solid (even though there were some issues with it as the night wore on); and the lighting was so rich I could literally touch it from where I sat! JAM is in its ninth year and I must say that it gets better with each year; there was even provision for live satellite viewing this year!!

Away from aesthetics, first ministration was by a crew called Keruzo Dance theatre. Beautiful well coordinated steps, their energy was palpable. I also liked the little skit they did with Nigeria and Ezekiel 37 before their main performance. I just feel that they would have been on point (for lack of a better expression) if they were less on a stage already cramped by instruments, décor and a scrambling camera crew.

After them we had another prayer session led by a Prophetess (don’t remember her name, I just know she’s really elegant, almost regal). Guess for whom? If you said anything close to the ‘most populous black nation’, head to the medals table!

To lift our spirits, Mc Abbey took to the stage and boy, he’s good! Who said comedy must be dirty? Mc Abbey you rock abeg! And I’ll leave it at that (for now).
Time check, 10pm; it’s getting better by the minute! Solomon Lange came next, he was just great! And I must say that it’s a great relief that Nigerian artistes are learning to perform live (and not just mime through their title tracks). Lange ran through some popular Hausa praise songs and I thoroughly enjoyed picking my brain to remember some of the songs I knew from way back. By the time he got to ‘Na Gode’, I was blown away (let me say now that I was ‘blown away’ many times tonight’)! Fast forward to the tears that rushed down my eyes when Jamaican born, multi award winning Chevelle Franklin led us in a rendition of the National Anthem – that was the clincher for me, the kiss of my life! Are you one of those people who get goose bumps when you hear the National Anthem? I don’t know about you o but I really do love Nigeria.

Ok, in fast forwarding I didn’t mention that Kefee and Jahdiel ministered. Beautiful outfits and performances a la both ladies. For Kefee, the ‘leave when the ovation is loudest couldn’t be more true’ (anytime after Branama would have been great; and was that guy seriously supposed to do Timaya’s part of Kokoroko)? Seriously?
For Jahdiel, if you want to sing and dance trado, me thinks you should dress the part. The glitterati + knee length boots ensemble didn’t do it for me (I’m sorry). And yes, how about a performance CD?

Muyiwa Olanrewaju (all the way from the UK) blew us away (those of us who could keep up with the songs that is). He however said something that touched me, deeply. He said he spoke with the Archbishop of the Anglican community in Jos about the recent genocide there and the Cleric said, “23 years ago, my church was burnt down; 23 years after, it’s still happening”. Let’s take a minute to remember all the lives that we’ve lost in Jos; May their souls rest in perfect peace, amen.
Ok, can I say again that Mc Abbey is totally awesome and I’m all for clean comedy? The thing about God being ‘Jehovah El Effizy: the God of all swagger’ was just it! And I won’t even get started on ‘the fact that someone has big eyes doesn’t mean the person’s an overseer. If not, Segun Arinze would…..

And did I mention that a certain sister, in charge of Sister Sister, was the host for the night? If you're a true sister you should know this sister!! Yay!!!

The Tehilah Company (House on The Rock Choir) did what they do best – bring down the presence of God! I admire the passion and energy they bring every time they minister, it can only come from deep inside. Still on ministrations, David Baroni’s from Nashville, USA) worship session was one I want to relive over and over again!
Chevelle Franklin, she took it out of the park! Wow! She sang songs like ‘I have a very big God o’, ‘I have a father that can never fail me’, and a couple other Naija tunes but with the distinct Jamaican flavor. Then she led us in a beautiful session of worship that made me feel like we had joined the angels and twenty elders around the throne. Micah Stampley took it up a notch (and I thought we were riding the crest already)! From worship song to worship song, every part of me was….wait for it….blown away!

Men of God present included Bishops David Abioye (my bishop) and John Praise, Pastors David Porter, Goodheart Ekwueme, Paul Eneche, and Paul Adefarasin. According to Pastor Paul, the men of God in the congregation exceeded the ones recognized, and I agree with him because even I cannot remember all the ones recognized!

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed Pastor Paul’s message based on Exodus 1:7; the story about the birth of Moses and how he ended up being raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. I also liked the fact that he moved away from the message to discuss the problems our nation is facing. We are the salt of the earth abi? The message was so fiery I could literally taste the salt! Did I mention that I enjoyed learning new words too? Wink wink!

When he was going to blow the Ram’s horn, I had that take-off-your-shoes-cos-you’re-standing-on-holy-ground feeling; it felt so sacred, especially with all the ministers standing on the stage with him! And the prophesies? I haven’t said so many ‘amens’ in a while! Now the Ram’s horn is originally translated from the Hebrew word shofar, which has been used from Old Testament times right to the present. It was blown on the Sabbath, it announced the New Moon, and was used to proclaim the crowning of a new king (a ceremony still used today at the swearing in of a new Israeli president). The most solemn modern use of the shofar is during the Rosh Hashana, or New Year’s.

Papa San’s ministration was unique in the sense that we didn’t understand a word of it, except stuff like ‘push em up’, and ‘we love you’. I strongly believe that he brought the ‘club’ in everyone. No see dance steps o! And I’ll leave it at that.

Big D (Muyiwa Olanrewaju’s baby brother), and his unique praise band led us in a blazing session of praise and then the ‘Wamilele wonder’, Pastor Kingsley Ike, took over! Oh my God! We danced, and danced, and danced!!! And then of course, we had to go home (it was 6am already)!

Next year’s JAM, 11th March. Do not miss it…because the Fairy God Sister said so!

CHRONCLES OF THE FAIRY GODSISTER – THE STORY.

When I was told to do something for Christmas and the New Year, I kind of went blank….and that doesn’t happen every time. Want to know why I went blank? There was nothing Christmassy in the air; nothing particularly exciting to look forward to in the New Year too. Personally, I think there’s no love in the air; if there was people wouldn’t be killing others, there’s no fear; if there was people wouldn’t be kidnapping people almost twice their age (or young enough to be their children)! There’s no peace, if there was we wouldn’t have seen the Jos, Haram, and Bauchi crises of last year, heck, we’ve moved beyond inter religious crises to fighting within our sects! There’s no integrity; if there was our leaders wouldn’t loot our country’s resources like they were dropped into a field and commanded to harvest!

Amidst all of these, 2009 was a most interesting year for everyone, abi? We all have things to be grateful for. Start from the fact that we’re alive and had the opportunity to gorge ourselves on Christmas feasts and then of course, resolve to lose weight from January 1st! Move on to the fact that you’ve got family (or people you can truly refer to as family) and that they love you and are there for you (no matter how many times you disagree)!

One step further, we can be grateful for the friends we have…..the ones that are true to us and even the ratty ones that bite and blow on our toes….what would life be without them?

I won’t mention rather mundane things like jobs, cash, etc (even though we should be grateful for them too). I say this because God, life, family, and friends are the pillars on which everything else rests… but I bet you already knew that.

Ok, so this is my story (and it’s not even based on the overused but rarely understood ‘reason for the season’ cliché). The Fairy GodFather’s lecturer in Fairy school said that to properly define a thing, you must first establish what it is not. So, my story is not about new clothes, shoes, breaking your piggy bank and rewarding yourself with some random gift (however expensive), it’s not about trips to the village, exotic places; it’s not even about happy reunions with our families and loved ones.
My story is about stocktaking. It is about usefulness. It is about productivity (and don’t you dare say I’m getting all motivational on you, cos I’m not)! I read when the purpose for being awake is not known, sleep becomes interesting (now that was from a motivational speech). What I really want to ask/say is, how useful were you to yourself in 2009? Can you honestly say you achieved your purpose for the year? If you were asked to take stock of your 2009, would you be able to (in other words, would there be any ‘stocks’ to take)? Did you get that certification, make that trip, call that friend, get married, go to school, do that thing you’ve been planning to do?

It’s important to evaluate (and I’m not talking about bankers sitting down, sipping coffee and telling stories); I’m talking about you sitting down with yourself to ask yourself these three questions (and their flipsides):
1. What did I set out to achieve in 2009 (and did I achieve them)?
2. How did I achieve them (why didn’t I achieve them)?
3. How do I raise the bar this year (how do I ensure I don’t repeat last years mistakes)?

If you can truthfully answer these questions, you’re on the sure road to a super duper 2010. And I am going to leave it like that.

That said, lets move on to things like, I hope you had a swell break, you had a great time with your friends, family, etc. I hope you had lots to eat, drink, and be merry with and I most sincerely hope you spared a thought (and a little action too) for people less privileged than you are.

So, I hope you liked my story. The truth however remains that only you can tell the best stories, and this year the stories will (must) revolve around your success! And the Fairy GodSister promises to watch.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!