CHEKWABA MKPULOBIM

"Chekwaba Mkpulobim" is a deeply moving Igbo prayer for the departed, composed by Donatus Amusiogo. The title translates to a plea for the Lord to safeguard the soul, and the song serves as a tender requiem for Catholic funerals. In the chorus, the choir leads the congregation in asking Jesus to keep the soul safe in His dwelling place, praying that He will not allow it to perish in the land of the dead.

The verses draw on the promise of the resurrection and the soul's immortality. The choir sings of how God created the soul in His own image, recalling that just as He did not leave His own Son to decay in the grave, He will conquer death and sin for the faithful. It is a piece that brings profound comfort to the grieving, often sung during the commendation or at the graveside as a final, hopeful farewell.