Whenever I think of Hymnodia, the phrase “It is not how far, but how well” just comes to mind. For a show just in its maiden edition and just 8 stanzas gone, Hymnodia has really proved the plausibility of the phrase. The judges remain: Dupe Ige, Sunday Olawuwo, Onyeka Onwenu and Ben Ogbeiwi. David Onwukwe was hymnvicted at the beginning of stanza 7, leaving 9 hymntestants in the hymnstitute.
For the 7th stanza, the hymntestants performed original hymns composed by them. This is a list of the hymntestants and their hymns: Juliet – ‘The Lord My Rock And My Fortress’, Uduak – ‘Incomparable love’, Mobolanle – ‘O Christ Our Bridegroom’, Olumide – ‘Heal Me Lord’, Rachael – ‘Amen’, Blessing- ‘Love So Pure’, Jemine- ‘Have Mercy, Oh Blessed Lord’, Kenneth- ‘Have Mercy On Me’ and Abigael- ‘When I Stand Before Your Throne’.
All of these compositions were inspired by particular books and chapters in the Bible. These performances reassured everyone present that the culture of hymn writing and singing would not die.
At the end of a melodious night, Rachael and Olumide were declared outstanding. On the other hand, Uduak, Juliet, Mobolanle and Jemine were the hymntestants with the lowest performances. However, in the spirit of Lent, the faculty pardoned them and cancelled probation.
Jemine was also appointed the new stanza leader as David, who used to hold that position had been hymnvicted.
At the beginning of stanza 8, the hymntestants sang a collective hymn. This was to appreciate the faculty for cancelling probation at the previous stanza. The theme for the night was ‘Hymns in Mother Tongue’. Hymns in the English language are wonderful, but there is something special about hymns sung in a native tongue.
The following are the hymntestants and the hymns they performed: Jemine – ‘Eyo Ninu Oluwa’ ( Be Glad In The Lord And Rejoice), Kenneth – ‘Ma W’oghweri Ma Konre’ (We Plough The Fields And Scatter), Juliet – ‘Aha Jisus Di Ok’uto’ (How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds), Uduak- ‘K’ini Ukpong Mi Etide’ (When My Soul Remembers The Love Of God), Rachael – ‘Eje K’a F’inu Didun (Let Us With A Gladsome Mind), Mobolanle – ‘Mungode Maka, Ya Uba Allah Nmu’ (We Thank You Our Father And Our Lord), Olumide – ‘Ogo Ni F’Oluwa (To God Be The Glory), Blessing – ‘Obim Tob’Eze Nk’Eligwe’ (Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven) and Abigael- ‘Emi B’a N’Egberun Ahon’ (Oh For A Thousand Tongues To Sing). After an amazing night filled with music and dance, Mobolanle, Rachael and Olumide were declared the outstanding hymntestants for the night. Once again, there was no probation.
With every stanza, the competition gets stiffer. Every hymntestant is showing the stuff they are made of, even the shy ones are beginning to burst forth. Something has to give, but what will it be?
Waiting in the wings is the ASAPH award, who will go home with it?