EKWEM N'OTU CHINEKE

"Ekwem N'otu Chineke" is a vibrant Igbo setting of the Nicene Creed, composed by Okuy Tony Umeh as part of his "Missa Udo" (Mass of Peace). Sung right after the homily, the Creed is the moment the entire congregation stands to profess the core mysteries of the Catholic faith. Setting such a long, text-heavy prayer to music can sometimes feel heavy, but this arrangement handles it with a brilliant structural choice.

Instead of having the choir sing every single word of the Creed in four-part harmony, the composer uses a call-and-response format. The choir hums the main progression while a cantor or a strong solo voice recites the verses clearly. After each spoken section, the bass line cues the rest of the choir to sweep back in with the sung refrain: "E kwem n'otu Chineke, Nna ji ike niile" (I believe in one God, the Father Almighty).

This approach keeps the momentum alive in the choir loft and helps the congregation stay engaged with the words. It gives the profession of faith a dramatic, communal feel, building up to a joyful, multi-layered "Amen" chorus at the very end.