EKWERE M N'OTU CHINEKE

When the choir stands to sing the Creed after the homily, it is always a powerful moment of shared faith. Jude Nnam’s "Ekwere m n'otu Chineke" brings the Igbo translation of the Nicene Creed to life with a dynamic, through-composed choral setting. Rather than just repeating a single melody, the music shifts to match the profound mysteries being professed.

The piece opens with a firm, unified refrain declaring belief in the Almighty Father. As the choir moves through the life of Christ, Nnam introduces a striking shift: an a cappella section for the Incarnation and Crucifixion. Stripped of accompaniment, the voices carry the solemn weight of "O wer'ahu na Virgin Maria" (He took flesh from the Virgin Mary) and His suffering under Pontius Pilate.

This quiet reverence is soon broken by a triumphant second refrain, "O bilitere n'onwu," celebrating the Resurrection and Ascension. The final sections drive toward a joyful anticipation of the world to come, ending in a resounding series of Amens. It is a setting that keeps both the singers and the congregation deeply engaged with every word of their faith.