Hundreds of lovers of choral music could not hold back their joy and they danced to their fill at the 20th Pappoe Thompson Choral Festival held last Friday at the Centre for National Culture in Accra.

The festival is held annually in honour of the late great choral composer, Emmanuel Pappoe Thompson. It usually brings together choral groups from work places who are required to perform at least one work from the composer.

This year’s event, a collaboration between the Ghana@50 Secretariat and the Centre for National Culture, formed part of activities marking the nation’s Golden Jubilee celebration.

Most of the groups sang songs in commemoration of Ghana@50 in addition to selections from Thompson’s vast patriotic and gospel repertoire. As a side attraction, the Oblaboloi Cultural Troupe managed to get the audience on its feet and laughing with their oversized slippers.

Comedian Bob Okalla was also there with songs and jokes that kept the audience and the dignitaries roaring with laughter.

The festival was a five-hour show that never bored the audience. In fact, most of them were highly impressed with the high standards exhibited by the participating groups.

Director of the Greater Accra Centre for National Culture, Mr Alex Sefah-Twerefour, spoke at the function. He said the theme of “Creativity and Developpment” was chosen for the festival because it is creativity and a good sense of vision that move nations forward.

“ We make noise about the name of our first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, because of his deep sense of creativity and vision for Ghana and Africa. With a deep sense of creativity and vision, we can manage and make do with the resources we are endowed with,” he added.