NWATURU CHUKWU

"Nwaturu Chukwu" is a gentle, reverent setting of the Agnus Dei composed by Charles Onwubuya. Sung during the breaking of the bread, this short piece carries the quiet solemnity of the moment just before Communion. The melody is marked *Lento*, guiding the choir to take their time and let the plea for mercy resonate clearly through the church.

The structure is simple and deeply prayerful, following the traditional three-part invocation of the Mass. The sopranos lead the familiar Igbo text—"Nwaturu nke Chineke, onye n'ekpochapu njo nk'uwa" (Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world)—while the lower voices provide a warm, rhythmic underlay that builds the harmony. It is the kind of piece that settles the congregation's hearts, drawing everyone into a space of peace as they prepare to receive the Eucharist, culminating in that final, beautiful prayer: "nye anyi udo" (grant us peace).