Kene Eze Igwe

"Kene Eze Igwe" (Thank the King of Heaven) is a lively and rhythmic Igbo hymn by Charles I. Onwubuya, perfectly suited for the Offertory procession. The song opens with a bright, urgent call to action, urging friends and brethren ("Enyi mo", "Umunnem") to rise up and give thanks to the good God. It captures the joyful, communal spirit of a Nigerian thanksgiving, where the whole congregation is invited to step out of their pews and move toward the sanctuary.

The verses paint a beautiful picture of this shared worship. The first verse explicitly calls everyone—great and small, light and dark—to bring their gifts to the altar ("Bunte onyinye gi n'iru altar"). In the second verse, the choir sings of God's surrounding protection, standing behind and before His people. This gives the singers a profound sense of confidence and victory ("nganga kam ji aga") as they march forward to present their offerings from the heart. It is a piece that brings energy and deep gratitude to the Mass.