The Akwa Ibom State choral group has broken the world record for the largest number of Christmas carol singers in the world.
According to Guinness World Records, the largest group of carol singers was 25,272 by Godswill Akpabio unity choir at the Uyo Township Stadium, on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at Akwa Ibom state.
The unity choir sang a medley of The First Noel, Joy To The World, O Christmas Tree, Hark The Herald Sing, Once In Royal Davids City and O Come All Ye Faithful for over twenty minutes.
This beats the previous record of 15,674 carol singers by a group known as CENTI in Bogota, Columbia precisely on December, 15, 2013.
In a congratulatory message, the Guinness World Records adjudicator, Liz Smith, who did the announcement in Guinness World Record Headquarters, London, United Kingdom said, “It is now time to reveal the report of the official attempt to break the Guinness World Record of the largest group of carol singers.
“Our team of highly trained record specialists have reached a decision. The record to beat was 15,674. I can now confirm that your attempt to break the record has been successful. Congratulations on receiving a new Guinness World Records Title. The title of the largest group of carol singers has been achieved by Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir. You are officially amazing.”The Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio who broke the news to the indigenes of the state said, “This month, we broke the Guinness Book of World Records, for the largest number of carol singers ever in the world. This momentous feat was achieved when Akwa Ibom people drawn from all the nooks and crannies of the state came together in the spirit of love and brotherhood.”I believe that if we imbibe the virtue of love and stand together in brotherhood in the New Year, we would keep setting records and the walls of division, which have been erected by some selfish politicians, would tumble down.”
In his comments the Permanent Secretary, Protocol, Akwa Ibom State Government, and organizer of the record-breaking choir, Mr Aniekpeno Tom Mkpanang, described the Guinness World Record as “another feather to the cap of a record breaking governor who has already garnered record breaking accolades and honours for his great visionary leadership from the academia, churches, traditional institutions and the global community. Many of these institutions are places you cannot buy records from, which dispels the notion of sceptics that most such awards are bought. With this record from Guinness, earth and heaven celebrate him.”
