Terwase Zungwe Se Mhoonum (Kyrie in Tiv)

"Terwase Zungwe Se Mhoonum" is a gentle, earnest setting of the Kyrie eleison in the Tiv language. Sung during the Penitential Rite at the beginning of Mass, it carries the congregation's plea for God's mercy and forgiveness. The words translate the familiar threefold prayer—Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy—into a deeply felt local expression that grounds the liturgy in the voice of the people.

Dan Kwen's arrangement keeps the focus entirely on the prayer itself. The melody moves with a quiet reverence, allowing the choir to lead the faithful without overwhelming the solemnity of the moment. The structure is simple and traditional, moving from the call to the Father ("Terwase"), to Christ ("Kristu"), and back again, before concluding with a reverent coda that repeats the plea one last time.

For a choir preparing for Sunday Mass, this piece offers a reverent way to draw the congregation into a spirit of true reflection. It is the kind of setting that feels natural to sing, creating a moment of shared humility before the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word begins.