AWKA ANGLICAN DIOCESAN MUSIC FESTIVAL (2016 – 2020): A BRIEF OVERVIEW

Abstract

The biennial music festival of Awka Diocese is a graded music competition, where various church choirs gather and render pieces, with aesthetic appeal and with a primary aim of raising standards and improving church worship within the diocese. Over the years, Occurrences before, during and after the festival activities suggest that to a considerable extent, the primary aim for establishing the festival has not been achieved, as some church choirs within the diocese do not participate in the biennial music festival and some church choirs who participate have failed to attain the standard expected of them. It is therefore obvious that there are underlying issues around music festival in Awka Diocese. Using interview method as source of collecting primary data, the researcher was able to find out issues plaguing music festival in Awka Diocese, some of which include lack of synergy among participating choirs, use of mercenaries, lack of guide in song selection, incomplete criteria in selection of leadership, etc. Based on findings, the researcher recommends among other things, that the Diocesan authorities should pay more attention to the organization and participation of music festival within the diocese, with an aim of practically assisting to make the festival better.