They have been called “Nigeria’s Mormon Tabernacle Choir.” They are the Abeokuta, Nigeria, District Choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and they sang moving 25-minute programme entitled “My Peace I Leave with You” on Sunday, 20 May, 2012, prior to the main session of the Abeokuta district’s semi-annual conference.
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The musical presentation was followed by the annual district conference presided over by Elder Ini Benson Ekong, an Area Seventy in the Africa West Area of the Church. He was accompanied by Edward Karkari, president of the Nigeria Lagos Mission of the Church, and one of his councilors, Olatunji Famosa.
The 26-member choir, which is growing in size, includes members from the branches of the church within Abeokuta District. Its programme focused on the need for all people to turn to the Saviour in times of difficulties, sorrow, trials and tribulations, and elicited many positive responses. One person told the director afterward, “I was so touched by your presentation that I felt moved to tears and my testimony of the Jesus Christ has been greatly strengthened.”
Among the hymns the choir sang were, “Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah”, “God Loved Us So He Sent His Son”, “Where Can I Turn For Peace?”, “The Lord's Prayer”, and “Hallelujah Chorus”.
Ogun State Television (OGTV), a State-owned Television Station, broadcast the choir presentation by close-circuit in the Church’s meetinghouse and recorded it for public broadcast on the station a week later. The recording included interviews with presiding leaders, members and non-members.
The Choir has had three of such recordings with the Television Authority, all of which have been aired a number of times. The broadcast of 27 May, 2012, by OGTV is but the latest of these. In addition to singing at conferences, the Choir holds special concerts at Easter and New Year and also sings at National Holidays such as Independence Days.
OGTV was created over 30 years ago. Its programs are viewed by over 4.7 million people in the State which covers a geographical area of 16,762 square kilometers. Ogun State has Lagos State to the south, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the Republic of Benin to the west. OGTV’s broadcast signals are clearly received in these areas, putting its total audience capacity at almost 18 million people.