GORIBENU
Staff & Solfa Notation • Easter Hymns, Holy Week Hymns, Hymns
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GORIBENU by IZU MARCEL ONYEOCHA — Lyrics
About GORIBENU
"Goribenu" is an Igbo setting of the Exultet, the great Easter Proclamation sung during the Easter Vigil. The title itself calls the heavens and the earth to rejoice, setting the tone for the most triumphant moment in the liturgical year. When the church is in darkness and the Paschal candle is lit, this chant rings out to announce that Christ has conquered death and risen in glory.
Izu Marcel Onyeocha’s arrangement captures the solemnity and the soaring joy of this ancient text. The melody carries the cantor through the long, narrative prayer of salvation history—from the fall of Adam to the deliverance of the Israelites, culminating in the resurrection of Jesus. It includes the familiar dialogue where the priest or cantor calls the congregation to lift up their hearts ("Welite nụ'obi elu"), drawing everyone into the great prayer of thanksgiving.
For a cantor or choir, preparing the Exultet is a profound responsibility. This setting provides a majestic, flowing structure that supports the weight of the words. As the chant progresses toward its final "Amen," it fills the sanctuary with a sense of awe, reminding the faithful of the light of Christ that dispels all darkness.