EKWEM N'OTU CHINEKE

When the homily concludes and the congregation stands to profess their faith, Jude Nnam’s "Ekwem N'otu Chineke" provides a powerful, unifying voice for the moment. This Igbo setting of the Nicene Creed walks step-by-step through the core mysteries of the Catholic faith, from the creation of the world to the resurrection of the dead.

The arrangement is structured to keep the long text of the Creed engaging and prayerful. Nnam breaks the profession into distinct, manageable phrases, anchoring them with a recurring refrain that declares, "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty." A solemn, ad-libbed section slows the tempo to reverence the incarnation and crucifixion—"Site na Mmuo Nso, o buru mmadu" (By the Holy Spirit, He became man)—before bursting into a bright second refrain to celebrate the resurrection.

For a choir, mastering this piece means leading the parish in a true statement of belief. The steady, rhythmic march of the verses builds momentum all the way to the final, resounding "Amen," leaving the church ready to enter the Liturgy of the Eucharist with a shared, joyful conviction.