THE SECOND ANNUAL Dublin International Gospel Music Festival, an initiative of Metro Éireann, went down a treat in Liberty Hall last Saturday.
Building on its inaugural outing last year, the event drew a multi-ethnic audience of hundreds in shared appreciation of gospel music of various genres including choral, rap and soul.
Performing artists included Adeniyi Allen-Taylor, a multi-talented Nigerian-born musician who played soothing saxophone numbers; streetwise hip-hop artist Zanillya Farrell; the powerful God Praise Choir from the Redeemed Christian Church of God; the renowned Dublin Gospel Choir; and British singer Muyiwa, whose gospel style featured influences of rock, Nigerian rhythms, soul and Native American beats.
Audience members seemed to enjoy the event. “It was an evening beyond my expectations, truly uplifting and inspirational music, superb artists,” said Philippine Ambassador to Ireland Ariel Y Abadilla, who attended the concert with a number of his embassy staff.
Irishman and music lover Maurice Coffey also had high praise for the festival. “It was a real treat to be immersed in something so joyous, different and so powerful,” he said. “The atmosphere was really unique – warm and loud and a lot of fun.”
The evening’s entertainment was preceded by workshops on topics such as digital music production, singing and voice training, and marketing and promotion of gospel music in Ireland.
Imran Ahmad, a representative of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Ireland, who attended the workshop on Faith, Race and Integration, told Metro Éireann: “It provided a platform for people of different faiths and backgrounds to come together and talk about this important topic.
“It was a very useful bonding exercise which should be broadened much more in future to include more Irish people on the forum too. People representing different sects in religions should be invited to form a common ground on this topic.”
Event organiser and Metro Éireann editor Chinedu Onyejelem said he was “delighted” at how the one-day festival went and noted how the workshops “gave people the opportunity to advance their knowledge in certain areas”.
He also thanked supporters and audience members who made the event what it was. “I am very grateful that our sponsors backed us up and I extend appreciation to all those who attended the festival and came to experience gospel music.”
The Dublin International Gospel Music Festival is an initiative of Metro Éireann, Ireland’s first multicultural newspaper. The 2011 festival was supported by the US Embassy Dublin; Dublin Bus Community Support Programme; The Irish Times; Jaipur; MK Design Studio; and Dublin City Council’s Office for Integration.
For information on next year’s festival, scheduled for Saturday 29 September 2012, call 01 878 3441, send an e-mail to gospelmusic@metroeireann.com or visit dublingospelmusicfestival.com.
