Mai Tsarki (Hausa)

When the Eucharistic Prayer begins, the choir leads the congregation in the great hymn of heaven, the Sanctus. "Mai Tsarki" is a vibrant Hausa setting of this universal prayer, composed by the well-known Nigerian choral figure Jude Nnam. Singing "O mai Tsarki, O mai Tsarki ubangiji" (Holy, Holy, Holy Lord), the voices capture the reverence and awe of the moment just before the consecration.

Jude Nnam’s arrangement gives the traditional text a distinctly Nigerian rhythmic life while maintaining the solemnity required for the Mass. The melody flows naturally with the tones of the Hausa language, allowing the words "Sama da Kasa a cike suke da darajarka" (Heaven and earth are full of your glory) to ring out with genuine conviction. It is a piece that feels right at home in parishes across Northern Nigeria, as well as in culturally diverse celebrations throughout the country.

As the piece moves toward its climax, the joyful repetition of "Hossana a cikin Samania" (Hosanna in the highest) lifts the spirit of the whole church. For a choir director, teaching this setting is a chance to bring a lively, indigenous expression of faith into the heart of the liturgy, uniting the voices in the choir loft with the unending song of the angels.