OGE ERUGO

"Oge Erugo" is a vibrant Igbo call to worship composed by Emma Orji. Drawing its inspiration directly from Psalm 122, the song opens with the joyful declaration of a pilgrim: "Ọṅụ jurum obi ogem nụrụ ha kwuru sị, k'anyị jeenụ n'obi Chukwu" (I rejoiced when I heard them say, let us go to the house of the Lord). It captures that specific, uplifting moment when the church doors open and the community gathers to begin the Mass.

As an Entrance hymn, the piece is designed to get the congregation moving. The rhythmic, spirited refrain—with its bright "Ah ah eh! Oge erugo" (The time has come)—gives the choir a lively processional march. The four-part harmony drives the melody forward, inviting everyone to step into the sanctuary with praise. It is the kind of song that immediately shakes off the outside world and focuses the mind on the liturgy ahead.

The verses carry the choir through the imagery of the holy city, singing of Jerusalem built strong and the tribes of the Lord going up to give thanks. When the choir sings "Anyị kwụzị... n'ọnụ ụzọ ama gị" (We are standing within your gates), it grounds the parish in the present moment of worship. It is a wonderful, energetic way to start a Sunday Mass, uniting the voices in the pews with the procession down the aisle.