Inaugural Ivory Coast Music Festival Held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

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On 25 November 2023, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presented the inaugural Ivory Coast Music Festival, which took place at the Abobo East Stake Center in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Over 1000 attendees enjoyed this unforgettable event that was marked by captivating musical performances and a sense of shared purpose.

The purposed of the event was to help members of the Church and their friends from the community to understand and appreciate the significance of music in their worship.  In addition, the Church hoped to promote inter-religious connections through music and joint activities.

Choirs and individual performers from throughout West Africa participated in the event.  Participating in the event were choirs from the Abobo West, Abobo East, Anonkoua, 4 Etages, and Dokui Stakes of the Church in Cote d’Ivoire.  Also participating was the Laterbiokorshie Stake, who travelled from Accra Ghana to be a part of the festival.  A special highlight of the evening was the participation of the Catholic Magnificat Choir of the Stigmates Parish, Sacred to Abbébroukoi. See Video Here

Individual performances were given by Mitchelle Ajeigbe from Ghana, Nana the Violinist from Ghana, Jonas Gballo from Cote d’Ivoire, and President Didier Yobo of the Anonkoua Cote d’Ivoire Stake of the Church.  The audience was also blessed to hear from the INSAAC band.

Presiding at the event was Elder Tonga J. Sai, an Area Seventy for the Church of Jesus Christ.  Also attending was Elder Christian C. Chigbundu, an Area Seventy for the Church, and President Gregory B Robinson and Sister Robin A. Robinson, Mission Leaders in the Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan North Mission.  Many other Church leaders from the Abidjan area attended as well.

The music festival, which lasted for over three hours, connected religious and traditional music that brought the audience together in a spirit of generosity, harmony, and deep connection. 

Elder Tonga Sai, in his closing remarks, urged the organizers and presenters of the musical festival to make this a yearly event. He then quoted from Doctrine and Covenants 25:12: “For my soul delights in singing; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer for me, and it will be answered with a blessing on their heads.”