OSALOBUA LAHO MWEN ITOHAN

"Osalobua Laho Mwen Itohan" is a profound choral setting of Psalm 51 in the Edo language. The title translates to "God Please Have Mercy," and the piece captures the deep, penitential spirit of a soul seeking forgiveness. It opens with a solemn, exposed plea led by the cantors—"Mwen itohan rhumwunda ma ruo ukho" (Have mercy, for we have sinned)—before the full choir enters to weave a rich, polyphonic texture of repentance and hope.

Choirs will find this anthem especially powerful during the season of Lent or as a reflective piece during the Penitential Rite. The composer uses the interplay between the soloists and the SATB voices to beautifully express the personal yet communal nature of seeking God's grace. As the choir sings of God's enduring love and faithfulness, the music builds in earnest devotion before settling into a gentle, chanted "Ise" (Amen) that brings the prayer to a peaceful close.