Ovbiohuan Osa

"Ovbiohuan Osa" is a solemn and reverent setting of the Agnus Dei, sung in the Edo (Bini) language. Composed for the fraction rite, the piece opens with a cantor's chant calling upon the Lamb of God, which is immediately answered by the full choir in four-part harmony. The choir's plea, "U vio rukhọ agbọn kua, tohan mwan" (You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us), carries a deep sense of petition that fits the quiet, reflective moments just before Communion.

In the choir loft, this arrangement offers a beautiful balance between the solitary voice of the cantor and the unified response of the singers. The music moves with a steady, grave tempo—marked specifically as *Grave* and set in E minor—that grounds the congregation in the solemnity of the Mass. For the third and final invocation, the choir shifts their prayer to ask for peace, singing "rhio funmwangbe se ni ma."

This setting is a wonderful choice for Nigerian parishes looking to incorporate indigenous languages into the fixed parts of the liturgy. The clear solfa notation and straightforward harmonic progression make it accessible for choirs to learn, while the traditional call-and-response structure helps draw the entire church into the prayer of the Mass.