YAR'UWA MARYAMA YAYA JARIRI YARO? (Sister Mary, How is your little boy?)

"Yar'uwa Maryama Yaya Jariri Yaro?" (Sister Mary, How is your little boy?) is a tender, conversational Christmas carol composed by Laz Ekwueme. It brings the nativity story down to earth, asking Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the angels simple, caring questions about the newborn Jesus. Singing it feels like stepping right up to the manger to check on the baby, asking if He is cozy, if He has toys, and if He is well-fed.

The piece is written with a gentle, rocking rhythm that mimics a lullaby. As the choir moves through the verses, the melody shifts its focus from Mary to Joseph, then to the shepherds and guardian angels, before calling on all mankind to worship the newborn King. The bilingual setting allows choirs to sing the story in both Hausa and English, making it a wonderful, inclusive choice for Christmas concerts and Midnight Mass.

What makes this carol so special is its profound warmth. Instead of grand, distant theology, it focuses on the human reality of the Holy Family. When the sopranos ask, "Is He cosy, or does He cry?", it invites the congregation to see Christ not just as a king, but as a vulnerable child who needs love and care. It is a joyful, comforting piece that brings a deep sense of peace to the Christmas season.