The Experience, hosted by House On The Rock Church has held every first Friday of the month of December since its inception in 2006 at the Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos, Nigeria; except 2007 where the concert was moved to 30th November, featuring gospel artists from home and abroad including America’s Kirk Franklin & Israel Houghton, and iconic South African worship leader, Lionel Peterson, to mention but a few.
Envisioned and convened by senior pastor of all House on The Rock churches, Paul Adefarasin, the very first Experience which recorded an attendance of a little over 70,000 people, has now grown to be recognised as the largest and most anticipated gospel concert in the world. It has gone from hosting 70,000 people to about 700,000 people physically at the Tafawa Balewa Square and environs, with viewers joining from different parts of the country and the world at large to be part of the concert.
In December 2019, the 14th edition tagged Let Us Worship, saw a huge number of worshippers in attendance, while others watched on cable beamed in over 50 countries in Africa with more people streaming on the various platforms online, taking over the Twitter trends table from top to bottom. Participants left the event in high spirits, anticipating the 2020 edition and all the good things the New Year will bring. It is general knowledge that the organizers of The Experience always outdo themselves each year, so, while people were excited about the just concluded 2019 event, they already couldn’t wait to see the next wonder the organisers will come up with, one of which is always the artists they bring.
2020 came and in February, Nigeria saw its first Covid-19 case. The increased outbreak of the virus across the world led countries including Nigeria to go into total lockdown for months. Movements were restricted to only essential workers to help flatten the curve and reduce the spread of the virus.
While everything stopped and it didn’t look like Nigeria was going to be declared Covid-19 free with the way cases kept increasing, one question on the lips of many was how The Experience was going to happen and if it was going to hold at all.
Something happened though, church services, lectures, meetings, events, interviews and even weddings started holding virtually.
There was a huge shift as the world suddenly went digital. New video conferencing platforms sprang up and a huge competition amongst these platforms was birthed. While some companies struggled for a while, it wasn’t long before people realised that most of the activities they held physically could be done virtually.
Even when the lockdown was eased in Nigeria, organisations had already seen how most of their activities could be done virtually and many didn’t see the need to switch.
On the 23rd of November, the organisers of the experience tweeted: “Yes we had the last 14 editions together mainly in one place, yet now we’re not apart, we’re still in this together as we go global with the #TE15G. There are no barriers and nothing can stop us, our God deserves our praise all the way, and He will have it.”
This was good news! Avid fans of The Experience couldn’t contain their excitement even though many still weren’t sure what format the concert was going to take. Will they invite guest artistes from Nigeria alone, and hold the event at The Rock Cathedral? Will the organisers have guests book seats and only have a specific number of seats available due to social distancing?
While people were able to stream the experience in previous events, attendees at the Tafawa Balewa Square could see the guest artistes physically. This time however, things are different. Guest artists will plug in from wherever they are in the world.
On Friday the 11th of December, The Experience concert featured some new and very unique entrants to its outstanding line-up. From Australia – Hillsong United, Tasha Cobbs and Maverick City from the United States of America, from South Africa -The Cape Town Philharmonic Choir, Ana Paula Valadao from Brazil, Sheldon Bangera from India, Matt Redman from the United Kingdom and Sidney Mohede from Indonesia.
Don Moen, Sinach, Nathaniel Bassey, Tope Alabi, Donnie McClurkin, Sonnie Badu, Eben, Onos, Travis Greene, The Planetshakers, Ada, Mercy Chinwo and many other powerful singers who have become regular faces at The Experience also returned to minister in melodious songs of praise and worship to the delight of everyone.
There were also guest appearances and messages of hope and goodwill by global icons and leaders including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby; Senior pastor of the Potter’s House, Bishop TD Jakes; Lead Pastor of Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen; renowned Ghanaian Theologian, Mensa Otabil; Pastor at Jesus House UK, Agwu Irukwu, famous American fitness evangelist, Angela Davis, Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo; and many more global leaders from across Asia, Europe, America and several countries in Africa like never seen before.
Perhaps, The Experience Lagos is not just the largest gospel concert in the world physically; a few days after the first wholly virtual global edition; it looks to be the largest virtual concert the world has ever witnessed.
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