V/S/E TMO OSHOFFA! THE EBENEZERI AMONG THE APEX CHOIR.

Many part of Africa where the phenomenon and practice of gospel music have assumed the status of main stream music (Emielu 2014). There are essential qualities that make a good music composition for church such as : Meaning text, singable melody and danceable rhythm.

The major objectives of this write up is to examine the significant of the just released musical album from the Apex Choir of Celestial Church of Christ, Ketu International Headquarters, Lagos, Nigeria titled “ SOUNDS OF TESTIMONIES” to the contemporary standard of music in the modern world. Celestial church music fall under gospel music, which has been a subject of some debates as regards to interpretation in African and Afro- American person, history has it that the term gospel music in the west world was popularized as essentially black American music genres in the 1920s, having defined the term ‘Gospel music’ in the context of this article, a gospel musicians hence, defined as someone who minister music by preaching gospel of God (Adedeji  2015).

Another controversial and ethical issue is the use of secular styles such as Highlife, Juju, Waka,  Fuji musical styles in gospel music. These styles of music belong to a wider side of musical category’s known as popular music, Christian and Gospel musicians refers to them as secular on the basis of textual contents, free dance accompaniment and other practices associated with their performance, its common today to hear ‘Highlife Gospel’ Fuji Gospel’ Juju Gospel’ in Celestial Church; however the album “ Ebenezer” from the Apex Choir explained the importance of Gospel Music composed outside the jurisdiction of secular category of styles. The Album never attached any negativity of secular categories in any of the composition, which further give the rudiments of understanding within the choir, producer, sound engineer who recorded and mixed the album with the executive producer ( The Parochial Committee) will generate the resource for the production of the album. 

Gospel music has one of the Christian musical genres under popular music in Nigeria, has content’s of traditionally and theologically evangelistic, I.e aimed at preaching the goodness of Jesus Christ to other for the purpose of saving their souls (Abiodun 2010).

 EBENEZER (APEX CHOIR) AN IDENTITY IN CELESTIAL GOSPEL MUSIC.

On the platform of God spirit, Pastor SBJ Oshoffa got moved by the holy spirit to establish the Celestial Church of Christ in September 1947,the church drew for herself, independent hymns and mode of worship, which were quite distinct from those in other churches. (Faseun 2010).

Music in the Church are not performed for the sake of entertainment, but some could be for extra musical activities including enchanting the transformation of the prophets and prophetesses into the spiritual realm, praising and worshiping with western and traditional musical instruments. The Apex Choir of Ketu International Headquarters covered a sound composition of lyrics to drew the attention of believers to praise God for his kindness & admiration toward expressing the glory to our creator.

The Musical album had find roots of sustainability among the old songs composed by CCC Makoko National Headquarters, Lagos, CCC Yemetu Parish, Ibadan & few other parishes in the fold. The Musical album will also shows the value of the parish through the general acceptability of the public with the declaration of independence of full scale gospel music.

 *FROM AN ETHNO-MUSICOLOGY POINT OF VIEW;  THE SHEPHERD IMPACT.* 

The fieldwork showed that a large part of the music of the Celestial Church of Christ is rooted in Highlife music (Adetiran 1987). 

The entire worship of the C&S embraces the tradition of the mission churches combined with those which are peculiar to the traditional culture, similarly in the Celestial Church of Christ, in addition to the characteristics manner of singing and clapping, hymns are appropriately selected for various services to match the purpose of the service being held (Olaosebikan 2016).

Its necessary to state that singing a gospel song does not necessary make someone a gospel musicians, the leadership of V/S/E Tosho Oshoffa constructed the step toward the success of the musical album. His clear understanding of leadership encouraged the Choir to work with the impact of holy spirit. The value of a shepherd will determine the peak of development of any units within his authority & members of his parish.

The requirements of closeness from V/S/E Tosho Oshoffa with the Parish choir worked out to proof his impact of positive phenomenon to drive the parish beyond the imagination of human views. The Shepherd has continuously keep the pace of physical/ modern development at Ketu. He constantly change the narrative of the parish not only has a son of the Pastor Founder; but has the chosen one to lead the transformation of dreams to reality.

Congratulations! *V/S/E Tosho Oshoffa.* The Composer of leadership in “ SOUNDS OF TESTIMONIES”.