Wale Jagun
The choir of the African Church Bethel Cathedral, Ikorodu, also known as the “Cathedral Choir” on Sunday, September 13, 2026, lifted their voices in praises and thanksgiving to God with special songs as they celebrated the 13th Festival of Psalms.
Aside from the songs dominated the special service, lessons were also read from the book of Psalms, an ancient collection of 150 ancient Hebrew poems, hymns and prayers that come from different eras in Israel’s history.
This year’s festival was themed, ” Unity in God” – Psalm 33:1, which emphasizes the unity of the Church with God as the only focus, with The Rt. Revd. Adedamola Abiodun Oriola, Bishop, Lagos West Diocese of the African Church delivering the sermon on the special occasion.
The seven lessons from the Book of Psalms read during the service were delivered by Sis. Eniola Olaoluwa Fapohunda, Chief (Mrs) Olajumoke Abike Laleye, Comrade (Mrs) Kehinde Okeowo, Jp, General Lay Reader Aderoju Sobowale, General Lay Reader Yemisi Sodade and His Lordship, The Rt. Revd. Abiodun Adedamola Oriola, the Bishop, Lagos West Diocese of The African Church. They spoke on the purposes of the selected Psalms for this year which were also chanted by the Cathedral Choir in different melodious tunes
The Organist/Choirmaster, Mr. Adelabu Olumide Adeola AIPM, who conducted the performance while welcoming congregants to the celebration stressed that the whole essence of the festival is to sing and worship God.
“Today, we gather again for a special purpose, to shout for joy as one congregation and as one family. Our outward expression of the happiness and love we feel for our Lord takes on vibrant, heartfelt life when we sing it as one together”.
Emphasising the theme of the festival, he said, “The unity of the Church must begin in the first instance with reference to the God who has narrated and enacted the gospel across the pages of the Scripture. The unity of the Church is a function of the unity of the God which the Church is called to worship.
“There is only one God and one gospel and the Church’s inner dynamics is to reflect this reality. That which binds the Church together is the God to whom the Church is called to worship. One God and therefore one people of God”.
He called for unity among the congregants.
Other notable members of the Church in attendance were Prince Adebayo Ogunleye, the Baba Ijo of the church, Dr. Timothy Okeowo, Vice Lay President, Lagos West Diocese, High Chief Femi Onafowokan, the Aro of Ikorodu, Engr. Afolabi Dixon, and Dr. Olukayode Bilewu, FCA,PhD, the Cathedral Organist who manned the organ during the special service.
