by Alexander O. Onukwue

Have you heard that about this thing that people are watching on Instagram at midnight, between 12am and 1am?

Yes, it is the #HallelujahChallenge, hosted by Gospel singer and evangelist, Nathaniel Bassey. The Challenge which is a one-hour online live meet of Christians to praise and pray began on June 01, 2017, and is expected to run every day until June 30, 2017. As at early Tuesday morning, over 120,000 live viewers have tuned in and participated in the fellowship.

Which leads to the question: why is this a thing? Why have Nigerians taken to the task of staying awake till or waking up at midnight, spend their hard-earned data, to join in on the movement? What has made the #HallelujahChallenge a success so far?

1. Nathaniel Bassey had won our hearts

Whether you were travelling from Lagos to Abuja (by road) and stop by Lokoja for a pee and a pie, or walking past a Gospel music store, you were sure to encounter ‘Onise Iyanu’, the alternate National Anthem of 2016. The beautiful song simply captured many hearts, regardless of the fact that many still don’t know what it means. “You’re the God of awesome wonder” was – and still is – a handy succour and companion to lift the spirits of Nigerians above the depths of a depressing economic state. It was a hit, in the way Frank Edward’s ‘Omemma’ was, and Sinach’s ‘More of You’. But Onise Iyanu was a bit different; a tune in tune with the tone of the time, touching throngs of people feeling thorny. When the architect of that called on people to sing, joining in was obviously a no-brainer.

2. He is a normal, a very everyday Nigerian

Everyone knows him as an evangelist but Nathaniel Bassey never isolates himself from the public on other matters. Arsenal fans would not always like him, being the target of his carefully worded but no less ‘savage’ banter. At that level, Bassey presents himself as one passing through the same society as his listeners, sharing in the challenges of everyday Nigerian life. He then goes on to elevate the conversation from the level of the mundane to the substance of his message. It also helps that Bassey keeps his physical appearance moderate and modest so that the participants in the #HallelujahChallenge know they are not tuned in, to a ‘Gospel celebrity’.

3. The Challenge is holding after Lent

Perhaps not the most significant factor, but given a good number of Christians of the Orthodox tradition – notably Catholics – abstain from the word ‘Alleluia’ during the forty days of Lent, it was good the Challenge held when they could participate. Also, this was a challenge Orthodox Christians would have felt more inclined to participate in, as against the May Challenge which was about ‘praying in tongues’.

4. Please, re-read Number 1. That’s really why everyone is tuned in.

Editor