Ovbiohuan Osa

"Ovbiohuan Osa" is a deeply reverent Edo (Bini) setting of the Agnus Dei, composed for the choir to sing during the breaking of the bread. Marked with a grave tempo, the piece carries a solemn, chant-like quality that draws the congregation into a space of quiet reflection just before Communion.

The structure follows the traditional threefold petition to the Lamb of God. In the first two invocations, the upper voices carry the plea "Uvi'orukh'agbon kua, tohan mwan" (you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us), while the lower voices support them with a gentle, humming accompaniment before joining in the prayer for mercy. This creates a beautiful texture in the choir loft, emphasizing the vulnerability and earnestness of the prayer.

For the final invocation, all four parts unite in full harmony to sing the words together, culminating in the peaceful resolution "Rhiofunmwangbe ni ma" (grant us peace). It is a short but profoundly moving piece that grounds the Mass in a moment of cultural resonance and spiritual stillness.