EZE BIKO NURU OLU M

"EZE BIKO NURU OLU M" is a deeply moving Igbo response for the Prayer of the Faithful, composed by Ekwem Lilian (Adadioramma). Designed to be sung after each intercessory petition during Mass, the short piece carries the collective pleas of the congregation to the altar. The words evoke a heartfelt plea for the King of Heaven to hear the voices of His people.

The lyrics express total surrender and trust. Calling upon God as "Anya n'elu ụwa" (the Eye that watches over the world), the singers speak of running to Him as their only refuge. The melody builds into a gentle but urgent cry—"Ọkaka, jigide mo" (Great One, hold me)—before resting on the final petition asking the Lord not to forsake them.

For a choir, this response brings a profound sense of reverence to the intercessions. Its four-part harmony is tightly woven, allowing the voices to blend into a unified, earnest prayer. It transforms the spoken petitions of the liturgy into a deeply felt moment of communal faith, anchoring the congregation in the assurance of God's presence.