Ediomo Akpan has emerged winner of Season 2 of Hymnodia 2020 receiving the grand prize of an Asaph (a specially designed award named after David’s chief musician), a brand-new car and ₦5 million.
Hymnodia Season 2, the triple E: Entertainment, Education and Edification, reality TV show is built around hymns and worship.
The grand finale, known as Hymncert, was held on September 13, 2020 in Lagos.
Minstrel Sarah Thompson set the tone for the evening Hymncert with her soulful rendition of worship songs after which came the battle for the prize.
Five contestants (Hymntestants) made it to the Hymncert, but only four contended for the prize.
The two Hymntestants with the lowest votes, Johnson “Json” Ikpeama and Yinka Odunayo, engaged in a contest for the judges to decide who would join the trio of Frank Okoye, Duke Asuquo and Ediomo Akpan in the grand finale, a situation that saw Odunayo outwitting her counterpart in a fierce battlenodia of hymns.
The Hymncert proper started with Duke’s rendition of “Conqueror through the Blood” and followed by Ediomo’s performance of “Christ Our Mighty Captain”.
Part one of the Hymncert was Victory hymns all the way, then followed by the Pidgination of hymns segment.
Returning Hymntestant, Stephen Nwosu, in his melodious voice also featured singing and dancing with his performance of “Gukongozigi”, ‘Count Your Blessings’ in Igbo.
After the performances came the moment of truth as Gbenga Badejo & Company, the collation agency, handed the results to the host, the Dean of the Hymnstitute (show’s house), Ben Ogbeiwi, who kept the guests longing to know the Season 2 Hymnodian.
Frank Okoye was declared the third runner-up, Yinka Odunayo the second runner-up, while the moment of truth for the real winner was held in a little suspense, which kept the audience eager to know what would follow.
Duke and Ediomo were invited by the Dean to join him on the diamond platform and there was palpable tension and anxiety in the hall.
Pastor Kenny Folarin of Daystar Christian Centre was to present the Asaph, Rev. Olushola Makinde to present the car key, while the Producer and Executive Producer, Kufre and Ezinne Ekanem, were to present the ₦5 million cheque.
With all the dignitaries on stage, Ogbeiwi bellowed: “The winner and true Hymnodian of Season 2 is Ediomo.”
A graduate of the ABRSM Advanced Chorale Singing programme, Ediomo Akpan has been part of several choirs over the past nine years and was never on probation for the whole period of the Season 2 show, with the favourite hymn: “A Mighty Fortress is our God”.
He is a pseudo-polyglot, speaks English, Spanish and his native language Annang.
He is a soloist with proficiency on the classical flute.
He is a chorister, a tenor, at the House on the Rock Church, Lekki, Lagos.
In his remarks, Kufre Ekanem expressed gratitude to God for his awesomeness in making Hymnodia Season 2 a success, and wished to see Season 3, which will take place in 2021.
The reality TV show on hymns and worship was a one-hour programme on Lagos Television (Channel 256 on DSTV, Channel 90 on GOtv and Channel 113 on Startimes), with a magazine show on same channel on Wednesday evening.
It was also streamed live online via the LTV App available on the app store and on the dedicated YouTube channel, Hymnodiahq.
The show was also viewed on GITV, Kaduna; Anambra Broadcasting Service, Onitsha; Ondo State Radio/TV, Akure; ITV, Abuja; and Cross River TV, Calabar.
Others were: Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation; Kwara TV, Ilorin; and Plateau Radio TV, Jos.
All the stations aired Hymnodia on the same days (Sunday and Wednesday) but at different times.
