Jesu, Onye Mmeri ebiliwo

When Easter Sunday arrives, the choir loft needs a song that bursts with the joy of the resurrection. "Jesu, Onye Mmeri ebiliwo" by Jude Nnam gives us exactly that. From the very first vivace notes of the chorus, it sets a bright, triumphant mood. It is a favorite for Nigerian Catholic choirs during the Easter season, especially for the Entrance or Recessional, where the whole congregation can feel the energy of Christ conquering death.

The verses walk us through the Easter morning story with beautiful, descriptive Igbo lyrics. We sing about the women going to the tomb at dawn with anointing oils, only to find an angel who tells them He has risen. The second verse is particularly moving, focusing on Mary Magdalene weeping and searching for Jesus, her encounter with the risen Lord, and His instruction to tell the disciples to meet Him in Galilee.

By the time we reach the final section, the song breaks into a powerful litany of victory. We proclaim that the mighty warrior has defeated the devil and the power of death. The choir lists the witnesses—Mary saw Him, Peter heard Him, Thomas believed, and the angels rejoice. It is a wonderful piece to teach, full of rhythmic life and a deep sense of Easter triumph that gets everyone in the church ready to celebrate.