BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – COMPLEMENTING the success of its Opening Ceremony and Musical Gala, Hosanna’s Youth Festival saw an equally impressive turnout as hundreds of young people celebrated under the theme “Leap Over Your Walls”.
Gospel youth groups including Gospel Chords, LK and Company and Beverly Alford-Jeffers made up for the late start and set a high standard of performance for the evening. Divine Wonders, a young ensemble of talented musicians and vocalists, brought the crowd to its feet with its up-tempo reggae praise songs including “We nar go bow” and “Waiting down here”, while the popular Nu Nation Band urged the crowd to “Push your way through” and “Get Off your Blessing”. The band’s soca hits drew both young and old to the forefront demanding an encore performance.
Echo Youth Ministry, the newest addition to the Youth Fest, brought a mood of calm worship over the crowd with its renditions of “Amazing Grace”, “Nothing’s Impossible” and “We shall Overcome”, a song specifically composed for Hosanna. The under-18 youth band, Kingdom Singers went beyond the crowd’s expectations and rendered creative versions of “Lord I Come to You” and “I will worship the Lord”.
The Proclaim Gospel Band offered nothing less than a splendid performance drawing many to the front dancing to “De Wavin’ Ting”. The group debuted the voices of its male musicians subjecting the large gathering to their spell-binding vocal rendition of its featured “Lord lift us up where we belong”.
The crowd favourite, Tehillah Gospel Band began its performance in slow worship but broke into its trademark soca beats winding up a storm of dancers jumping and prancing in celebration. The group’s final rendition of “Ketch a Fire” got resounding applause and a lengthy celebration session leading the Hosanna Celebrations into the late hours of the night.
The festival continues tonight (Feb. 3) with Dance Mania showcasing over 20 dance groups from all over the island as they spread the message of Christ through performing arts.
