OTITO DIRI CHINEKE

When the choir strikes up "Otito Diri Chineke," the congregation knows it is time to lift their voices in joyful praise. Composed by Fr. Bart C. Ezeokafor, this Igbo setting of the Gloria brings a wonderful, layered energy to the Mass. The text translates the familiar "Glory to God in the highest," moving through the traditional prayers of adoration, blessing, and petition to the Father and the Lamb of God.

What makes this arrangement special is how the voices interact. While the sopranos lead the main verses—singing through the detailed lines of the Gloria—the other voice parts maintain a soft, continuous refrain of "Otito diri Chukwu n'elu kasi elu" underneath. This creates a constant, rolling wave of praise that supports the melody without overpowering it. It requires good breath control and listening from the choir, but the result is deeply moving.

Choirs often bring this piece out for festive Sunday Masses, solemnities, and Easter celebrations. The steady, rhythmic drive of the solfa notation gives the music a natural momentum, carrying the whole church into the Liturgy of the Word with uplifted hearts.