With over 60,000 participants on the #HallelujahChallenge hosted by Nigeria’s Gospel music minstrel Nathaniel Bassey, the attention of world renowned news platform CNN has been drawn.
Reported by Torera Idowu and Stephanie Busari of CNN’s African Voices, the feature illustyrated how the Gospel music minstrel started the revival that has brought the inclusion of notable entertainment practitioners including Uche Jumbo, Funke Akindele, Don Jazzy, Rita Dominic, Ini Edo, MI Abaga, Iceprince Zamani, Chioma Akpotha, AY Comedian, P-Square and many more.
According to the report, it started on the 31st of May after Nathaniel Bassey announced the praise challenge via his Instagram. The challenge has garnered about 68,000 participants on Instagram and 50,000+ on Facebook.
Statistics from Evolve Press reveal 10,000 posts with the hashtag “#HallelujahChallenge” and over 18,000 with the hashtag “#olowogbogboro” making it the number one trend in Nigeria, CNN reports.
Speaking with CNN, Nathaniel Bassey said:
“I had a sense which is the leading of the spirit to praise God the whole of this month.
“Against the backdrop of the challenges in the world today especially in our nation, with the scourge of terrorism and the recession … it has brought a sense of hope and respite. It is a reflection of the desire and hunger for answers and for hope.”
Nathaniel Bassey told CNN he did not imagine the praise challenge will become so viral.
As the participants grow with the hashtag #HallelujahChallenge and #olowogbogboro, it has not gone without criticism from some members of the society, nevertheless, the praise rings out every morning from 12am to 1am!
