The 2016 edition of Celestine Donkor’s Celestial Praiz, which took place at the Royal House Chapel (Ahenfie) on Sunday July 17, was not only hugely patronized, but was also used to eulogize the late gospel legend, Danny Nettey, who passed on barely three days to the concert.
The gospel event, which drew about 6,000 worshippers, was headlined by guest artiste Mkhululi Bhebhe of Joyous Celebration Choir, together with the host, Celestine, and a host of others.
The musicians, led by Celestine Donkor, and Rev. Ato Acquah, a close friend to Danny Nettey, spent the first few minutes of the show to pay glowing tribute to him, by first observing a one-minute silence in his memory.
A three-minute video footage by the Next Generation Ministers, which celebrated Mr. Danny Nettey in 2015, organised by Fiifi Forson, was replayed to the audience.
Danny Nettey’s synonymous shouts of praise were re-enacted to mourn and celebrate him as a distinguished legend and leader of contemporary gospel music, who has impacted several musicians such as Joe Mettle, Celestine Donkor among others.
Before the ministration of songs kicked off for the night, one of the invited artistes, Qwesi Oteng, also did one of Danny Nettey’s songs, ‘I will lift you up high’ in his memory.
The host of the Celestial Praiz concert, Celestine Donkor, also did a unique rendition of Danny Nettey’s ‘I will lift you up high’ in the Ewe dialect in his memory.
The Ministrations for the night kicked off in earnest and one after the other, every artiste gingered the audience in a spirit-filled atmosphere of praise and worship.
The guest artiste, Mkhululi Bhebhe, a Zimbabwean born vocalist/musician based in South Africa, electrified the atmosphere with great songs.
Mkhululi Bhebhe in a charged mood at the 2016 Celestial Praiz.
Renowned International Evangelist Rev. Dr. Lawrence Tetteh delivered the word of exaltation on the night to the packed audience.
The ‘Supernatural’ hit maker, Celestine Donkor, did not disappoint the audience, as she wowed them with five of her songs including, Supernatural and Turning Around.
She also gave the audience a piece of her two new songs yet to be released, and did a live recording of a song in collaboration with the guest artiste, Mkhululi Bhebhe.
Celestine also rearranged her Supernatural track in a reggae tune, which is set to be released soon.
The Celestial Mass Choir and Friends of God, Becky Boney and Eugene Zuta, also ministered on the night.
Attendance was close to 6,000
The show, which started exactly on time at 4:00pm, ended at 10:30pm, although the initial plan was to end at 9:00pm.
The event, which is in its 5th edition, grew in numbers with nearly 6,000 people attending for free.
About 4,000 people were seated in the main auditorium, with almost half of that number seated in the church’s overflow section.
It was a well-coordinated event with perfect LED lighting system among others. Some dignitaries who attended the event included former Minister for Power and MP for Pru East, Dr. Kwabena Donkor and Ms Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie of Aglow International.
The Host, Celestine Donkor, who was awed at the crowd, is optimistic the next edition may be organised at a stadium.
“In reality, Celestial Praise has grown beyond the auditoriums and now we are thinking of Celestial Praiz 6 possibly happening in the stadium, and this is how far the Lord has brought us,” she said with glee.
About Celestial Praiz
Celestial Praiz is a Gospel praise and worship Jam instituted in 2011 to bring people from all walks of life and Christians from different denominations together to enter into the throne of mercy, lifting up hands and hearts to worship and praise the Almighty God.
Celestine will also be collaborating with the guest artiste, Mkhululi Bhebhe, to record a live song.
The Celestial Praiz has three-fold objectives, namely Praise & Worship, which seeks to bring together seasoned Gospel Ministers and believers to praise and worship the Most High God in spirit and in truth.
There is also a humanitarian section which identifies a challenge in a society and attempts to address it by channelling proceeds from the events into it, as well as the Accessible Entertainment segment, which seeks to serve as an accessible entertainment platform for Christians on a holiday – thus Celestial Praiz is always a free non-ticketed event.
Previous Editions
Seasoned gospel musicians such as Uncle Ato, Cecilia Marfo, OJ, Cwesi Oteng, Cindy Thompson, Evangelist Lord Kenya, KODA, Selina Boateng, Joe Mettle, and Martin Hayford among others have all joined minstrel Celestine to minister in the past editions of the program. Mary-Jane Matundzi, formerly of Joyous Celebration was the guest artist for the 2015 edition.
About Celestine Donkor
Celestine Donkor, who’s the main artiste on Celestial Praiz, has become a household name within the gospel music circles in Ghana and beyond.
She is known for her inspirational and soul-lifting songs which transcend tribal barriers in Ghana as she sings in English, Twi, Ewe and Ga.
Her motivational and dynamic attributes, coupled with her sonorous voice and years of collaboration with several renowned musicians such as Philipa Baafi, Superintendent Kofi Sarpong, Rev. Prince Nyarko, Great Ampong, Isaac Show Boy and many more have earned her the recognition as one of Ghana’s most versatile and unique gospel minstrels.
She has four albums to her credit and has been nominated several times in the prestigious Ghana Music Awards. Her fourth album dubbed Turning Around will be released at this year’s Celestial Praiz.
Turning Around features South Africa’s gospel star Mary-Jane Matundzi of Joyous Celebration fame.
Some of Celestine’s very popular songs include Adekyea mu nsem, Supernatural; I can be righteous, Manimnguase, Turning Around and many others.
Celestine is the founder of Chosen Ladies of Faith club (CLOFF), a feminine club aimed at empowering young ladies to achieve their God given potentials.
She is also the CEO of Celestial Company limited. Celestine is holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Ghana and is married with three beautiful daughters.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie