The Experience Lagos: Flashback to 2016 / Don’t Miss 2018 #TE13

The Experience Lagos concert 2018 is here and continues to gather momentum for the 13th Edition. Let us take a moment to reminisce on the events which took place as far back as the 11th Edition in 2016.

As the day dragged, everyone watched the clock impatiently as it slowly moved, It was a hot Friday which consisted of anxious Lagosians waiting to return home and quickly get ready.

The excitement zoomed to a hundred percent as the hand of the clock stuck five o clock.

One could almost sniff it in the air that something was about to happen. Something was about to invade the city of Lagos and they were unlikely to recover from it. As the day drew into the night, thousands of people trooped into the Tafawa Balewa Square while others still pondered on whether to go or not.

The BRT buses were jam-packed to stupor and some ticket sellers escaped as soon as the clock struck 8.o clock leaving Nigerians to run helter-skelter trying to catch buses or hitch an over-packed ride.

In other cases, some decided to jump into bikes while some cruised in their cars, lucky to have escaped all the chaos.

The air was dense, the stage was set, ready to receive its guests. Thousands of Christians although divided by barricades, gathered in one place, all in one accord, for one purpose; Revealing Jesus.

The night was young, but the struggle was real. It became a chaotic disaster as people squeezed, pushed and fought each other as they all struggled to find a comfortable spot in the over packed arena.

It became a question of survival of the fittest as men pushed women, fights between Lagosians and assigned security and ushers erupted. This led to innocent victims been hit due to being stuck between these fights. The struggle was suffocating, painful and somewhat disgraceful.

Over at the VIP section, things were a lot more mellow, orderly and peaceful. Unaware of the chaotic disorder happening behind them.

As the night got older, things began to simmer as popular gospel ministers mounted the stage pouring out their hearts to God and taking the people into Gods presence. One after the other from Tim Godfrey and Extreme Crew, to Minister Onos to the Midnight Crew and the legendary Segun obe.

The crowd roared for more as the atmosphere became thick with worship and praise unto God. A series of Prayer sessions led by various anointed men of God then took place.

Nigerians cried and prayed unto God to save their nation while others simply took it as a time to snooze and get ready for other gospel music ministers to mount the stage.

Eventually, the moment everyone had been waiting for had finally come. The international ministers took to the stage one after the other starting off with Cece Winans who delivered a powerful session of her hit songs as Nigerians sang along excited, pumped and ready for more.

Smokie Norful who was visiting Nigeria for the first time wowed the crowd with his amazing voice and his team shook the stage. The music was simply electric.

Coming to a close he welcomed the man most Nigerians were looking forward to hearing into the stage; Travis Greene. The amazing singer began with the very popular “Intentional” he then cruised into “You Got Up” and found his way into “On The Hill“.

The singer then shared his powerful well-known testimony of falling four floors down and was revived as his mother screamed “the blood of Jesus“.  the excited crowd screamed from the top of their lungs, energized and encouraged.

At this point, every single fan of Travis Greene was on their feet. The crowd started buzzing as Travis veered into “Made a way“.

As Pastor Donnie McClurkin then mounted unto the stage to join Travis Greene which led to another wave of excitement as he rounded up the session with powerful songs of worship.

The night would not have been complete if he didn’t sing a Nigeria’s favourite song at that time by Nathaniel Bassey “Imela“.

A rare moment took place as Pastor Donnie instructed everyone to turn on the lights on their phone and raise them up to the sky. It was a beautiful and special moment as thousands shone their lights.

A significant moment that simply showcased and encouraged thousands of Christians to shine their lights in the midst of the crisis, disaster, corruption, and frustration. It was indeed an ‘Experience’.

The morning sailed into another session of prayers by more anointed men of God who declared and decreed upon the lives of Nigerians and Nigeria as a whole.

Nigeria’s favorite Igbo crooner; Chioma Jesus then took to the stage and immediately the tired and sleepy crowd were once again revived as they jumped up to their feet.

As she ministered and encouraged the crowd with Igbo songs of praise.

She also shared her powerful testimony of birthing her first son after fifteen years of waiting and after been decreed barren after her first child she was able to conceive yet again.

The crowd scattered into a dance of praise and adoration to God the miracle worker. The atmosphere once again was shaken as the crowds lifted up their chairs and danced for Joy unto God for the great and mighty things he had done.

The day would not have been complete without Tope Alabi‘s songs of Yoruba praise and worship. The crowd once again were on their feet dancing and giving God more praise.

The Experience 2016 was simply a Night to remember!!!!!

You do not want to miss this year’s edition tagged; JESUS OUR PEACE
The stage would welcome both international and indigenous gospel artistes.

• Date:  December 7 2018
• Venue: Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos
• Ministering:  Don Moen, Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Timi Dakolo, Travis Greene, Nathaniel Bassey, , Vicki Yohe, Chioma Jesus, Tope Alabi, Eben , Tim Godfrey, Mike Aremu, Glowreeyah, Onos, Eno Michael and Chee.  And for the first time at The Experience is JJ Hairston, Planetshakers and ADA

Asides from being a first-class musical event and acclaimed to be the largest gospel event in Africa and probably in the world. The Experience tells the story of Nigeria and the possibilities that can be attained if we focus on a common purpose.

Hosting a first class event in a third world country or a developing nation is indeed a great stride.

It started as a thought inspired by God in the mind of  the Metropolitan Senior Pastor of the House on The Rock church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin and had since grown to host the thirteenth edition.

According to the convener of the event, the inspiration behind the 2018 theme is to highlight who Jesus is, especially in the world we live in today – the Prince of Peace.

He emphasized that regardless of the outcome of the “forthcoming national elections; peace is the ultimate candidate that we should all support, and must be the candidate that wins.

The Experience has become, unarguably, the most anticipated gospel music event in Africa among Christians and non-Christians alike.

It averages a yearly attendance of more than 500,000 people attend the event, while millions of people connect with it online from all over the globe.