Nabata Nwaodibo Gi

"Nabata Nwaodibo Gị" (Receive Your Servant) is a solemn and deeply moving intercessory prayer for the dead, composed in Igbo. Written specifically for funeral Masses, requiems, and the Feast of All Souls, the piece serves as a heartfelt plea to God to welcome the departed soul into His heavenly kingdom and show them mercy at the judgment seat.

The song is structured with a central refrain and a series of cantor-led verses that intercede for different groups of people. The verses pray for the faithful departed, victims of war or sudden death, the specific individual being buried, and finally for the congregation gathered in mourning. A recurring choral response ("Anyị arịọ gị Oh Dinwenu" — We beseech you, Oh Lord) anchors the verses, creating a litany-like feel that is traditional in Catholic intercessory prayers.

For a choir and congregation, singing this piece offers profound comfort. The lyrics gently guide the community through their grief, reminding them of the promise of eternal life and the hope that all will one day reunite in God's glorious kingdom. The specific naming of the deceased in the fifth verse makes the prayer intimately personal for the grieving family.