Ekene Maria

"Ekene Maria" is a vibrant and rhythmic Marian anthem that brings the traditional Hail Mary prayer to life in the choir loft. Composed by Rev. Fr. Dominic Igwe, the piece beautifully weaves the familiar Latin "Ave Maria" into rich Igbo verses. It opens with a gentle, reverent solo before the full choir bursts into a joyful, driving refrain. The polyphonic layers in the refrain—where different voice parts echo praises to the Blessed Mother—create a sense of overwhelming, cascading joy.

Choirs often bring this piece out for Marian feast days, May and October devotions, or as a lively Offertory hymn. The verses ground the prayer in scripture, with the first verse recalling Mary's powerful intercession at the wedding feast in Cana ("Kana na Galilee"). The second verse shifts focus to the fruit of her womb, Jesus, building up to an energetic, rhythmic vocalization ("O ga Chi Chi Chi...") in the soprano line that mimics the celebratory beat of traditional instruments. It is a song that never fails to lift the congregation's spirit, honoring the Blessed Virgin with deep cultural resonance and infectious energy.