Missa Ngozi: Nso Nso Nso

There is a special kind of joy that takes over the choir loft when the Eucharistic preface concludes and the drums kick in for the Sanctus. 'Nso Nso Nso' from Jude Nnam’s Missa Ngozi (Mass of Blessing) captures exactly that feeling. Written in the new Igbo translation, this setting of the Holy, Holy, Holy transforms the solemn angelic hymn into a vibrant, rhythmic celebration of God's majesty.

The piece opens with the catchy, syncopated call of 'Nso Nso eh!', immediately inviting the congregation to join in praising the Lord of Hosts (Osebulụwa, Igwe ndị agha). It is a song that refuses to stand still; the melody dances through the declaration that heaven and earth are full of His glory, building up to a bright and soaring 'Hosanna n'elu kasịelu' (Hosanna in the highest).

During the Mass, this is the moment we join our voices with the angels right before the Consecration. The second half of the score delivers the Benedictus—'Ọ dị ngọzi bụ onye bịara n'aha Onyenweanyị' (Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord)—with the same infectious energy, before looping back to the joyful Hosanna chorus. It is a staple for Nigerian Catholic choirs, bringing a deeply indigenous, celebratory spirit to the heart of the liturgy.