LABA N'UDO NKE CHUKWU

"Laba N'udo Nke Chukwu" is a deeply moving Igbo funeral hymn that serves as a final, tender farewell to a departed brother or sister in Christ. Composed by Ezigwe Chidi, the song is often sung during the final commendation or as the casket is borne out of the church. The score thoughtfully includes a placeholder name—here written as Gabriel—allowing choirs to personalize the tribute for the specific person they are laying to rest.

The lyrics carry both a plea for God's mercy and a gentle reminder for the living. In the verses, the choir asks the Father to remember the good works and dedication of the departed, praying that He receives their soul with compassion. The third verse strikes a particularly poignant chord in the choir loft, reminding the congregation that we are merely pilgrims on earth: "Onye dị ndụ cheta na ọnwụ dị" (Let the living remember that death is real), and that we too shall one day return to our Maker.

Singing this piece requires a balance of sorrow and profound hope. The recurring chorus, declaring that our sibling has gone home to rest, offers comfort to grieving families. It is a sincere expression of the Catholic belief in eternal rest, wrapping the solemnity of a burial in the warm embrace of choral harmony.