I bu Onyenchedo anyi

"Ị Bụ Onye Nchedo Anyị" is a deeply reflective setting of Psalm 90, composed by Ezenwata Stanley Chinonso. Written specifically as the Responsorial Psalm for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), the piece captures the profound contrast between God’s eternal nature and the fleeting reality of human life. The title translates to "You are our protector," anchoring the congregation in the comforting truth of God's enduring presence.

The verses walk the choir through the poignant imagery of the psalm, comparing a thousand years to a passing night watch, and human life to grass that sprouts in the morning only to wither by evening. The melody is marked to be sung "soft and meditatively," allowing the solemnity of the words to truly sink in. As the choir transitions from the verses into the reassuring refrain, "Oh Chi m o, Onye nche anyị mgbe dum" (Oh my God, our protector always), it offers a moment of deep trust and surrender during the Liturgy of the Word.