Music is an important aspect of life, not only for entertainment, but also for its therapeutic and spiritual qualities. For many, it holds a deeper significance. This article focuses on some of the greatest Nigerian gospel songs of all time, exploring blockbuster tracks that have remained evergreen since their initial release.
These songs have found a special place in the hearts of Nigerian Christian music fans due to their irresistible melodies, relatable lyrics, and validation of the audience's beliefs. Here are some popular Nigerian worship songs:
Many of these songs are sung in churches and Christian gatherings across Nigeria. Here is a collection of popular Christian songs:
- Shake shake shake, into the fire.
- The light of God is glowing in me.
- I’m a K.K, K.K in the Lord.
- I’m a B.A, I will never go back to the world.
- The Lord reigneth! Blessed be the Lord, let the rock of my salvation be exalted.
- In the morning early in the morning.
- In the morning I will rise and praise the Lord.
- I just want to say, Baba o, e se!!! We are saying thank you Jesus. Thank you my Lord.
- How excellent is Your name O Lord! (twice). How excellent is Your Name (thrice) O Lord.
- Lift Jesus higher, higher, higher.
- Who is like unto Thee O Lord (repeat). Of all the gods, who is like thee?
- I love that man of Galilee, He has done so very much for me!
- Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all my fear is gone. Because I know oo ooo, He holds my future.
- He sent His son, they call him Jesus. He came to die, he died for me. He died and He-eee rose to bury my burden.
- I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all of my burdens down at your feet.
- Hosanna! Hosanna, Hosanna! Alleluia. Hosanna! Hosanna, Hosanna!
- E ma ma ba mi gbe Jesu ga oh, Gbega!
- What shall I say, unto the Lord. All I have to say is “Thank you, Lord”. What shall I say, unto the Lord. All I have to say is “Thank you, Lord”. Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord.
- Who is the King of glory? The Lord almighty in battle. Who is the king of glory? The Lord, God Almighty, in battle Selah.
- So lift up your heads O you gates (sound of drums!) And be lifted up, in everlasting praise. That the king of glory may come in.
- I’m gonna praise the Lord. The devil cannot stop me. I’m gonna praise the Lord, In every situation. In the wilderness, in the prison-yard I’m gonna praise the Lord. For His faithfulness Alleluia. I’m gonna praise the Lord oo oood, For his faithfulness Alleluia.
- Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. In the city of His love, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful in situation, is the joy of the whole world.
- You are King of Kings and you are the Lord of Lords, You are the song that I sing.
- Great and Mighty is the Lord our/thy God, Great and mighty is He (Repeat). So lift up your banner of praise to the Lord. Great and mighty is He, Ohh great and mighty is the Lord thy God.
- I am a Winner all the time. I am a success not a failure. I am a victor not a victim, I am the head and not the tail. I am a Winner all the time. I am a success not a failure. I am a victor not a victim, I am the head and not the tail.
- (He’s a winner-man!) Jesus is a winner man Jesus is a winner man Jesus is a winner man. He’s a winner-man all the time. CHORUS: Winner-man a winner man, a winner man (thrice).
- I feel him in my head, I feel him in my toes, I feel Him in my heart, I feel him in my limbs. I feel Him when I wake, I feel him when I sleep. Every living soul (x2) praise the Lord. Every living soul (x2) praise the Lord. Magnify the Lord, Oohhh Magnify the Lord, The Lord is able! How excellent, how excellent, is Thy loving kindness.
- NFCS Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students is living the faith. We are the hope of our faith to blossom the drums of the church. Hail NFCS, with the strength of our youths we will move our faith forward and defend it whatever be the case…. Hail NFCS! Let’s spread the good news of the kingdom to all people on earth thru NFCS and join hands with groups of like minds to evangelize the world thru NFCS.
- CHORUS: Obi na-aso m rikpo (twice) Mma mma Chineke n’eme mu kori-kori mara-mara. 1. I nee anya n’ihu m NGOZI! I nee anya n’azu mu, NGOZI! Ngozi ngozi, ekene Chineke na-eju obi mu oo, ewoo. Mmiri mara m, ebe m na-eso Jesuu. Mmiri mara m, o mara m ma na owutero m! Ebe m na-eso Jesuu, Jesu chelu mu o, aghakwana m. Mgbe i na-eri (sha sha), mgbe i na-anu ( gwo gwo), echefuna Chineke kere gi.
- KA ANYI WERE IKU AKA TOBE JEHOVAH eee! Were iku aka to be Jehovah eee! To be ya, eee, o na-eme mma! Eeee.
TRANSLATION:
- Everything I have in this world is in Your hands, My work is in Your hands, My family is in Your hands. (You can also substitute words most pressing on your mind eg.
- A ga m ebulu Alleluia ebulu, Para Alleluia apara, apara Alleluia, bulu Alleluia, bugara Chineke Nna. Amara Chukwu, baara uba n’ebe m no. Ihe nile baa nyere mu na emetu chukwu na obi !! Echiche udo !
- CHORUS: Atukwasara m gi obi, Chineke. 1) Lee m anya, lee m anya na mkpuru obi m. 2) Oge m no na grasia gi, O Chineke. Ekene oma! Nye ya Ekene oma, Nye ya Ekene oma. Chineke nke igwe, I gbaputara m. Mgbe mu onwe m no na nsogbu, A ga m enye gi ekele. Ekele oma ka m ga enye gi. Otitoo oma ka m ga-enye gi. Abu ndi nso ka m ga-abuuuuu. I di ngozi na I di ukwuuuu. Chorus: Okwa gi? Okwa Gi si na i ga-eburu m ibu a? O kwa Gi siii na I ga-abu nke mu oo. A no m n’iru gi. Bianu lee ya, bianu leehhh (Repeat once). Come and see o, Come and see (Repeat once).
- A ga m e ji gini kene Olisa? A ga m e ji gini kene Nna m o? A ga m e ji gini kene Chineke, Onye kere uwa. Onye obi oma. Oseburuwa CHUKWU. A ga m e ji gini kene Olisa? A ga m e ji gini kene Nna m o? A ga m e ji gini kene Chineke, Onye bi n’igwe. Onye obi oma. Oseburuwa CHUKWU. O Chukwu biko Nara aja biko. Nara aja, O Chukwu Gozie anyi.
Top 5 Nigerian Gospel Songs of All Time
I selected five (5) blockbuster tracks that have remained evergreen since they were first released many years ago. I believe there are many reasons these songs have found a special place in the playlist of Nigerian Christian music fans. Of course, these include an irresistible melody and relatable lyrics. Above all, I believe they are great songs because they validate what the audience believes in.
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1. Way Maker by Sinach
With over 225 million streams on YouTube, Way Maker is easily the greatest gospel song ever sang by a Nigerian. It is a worship song that captured the undivided attention of many believers upon its release in 2015.
A blockbuster, Way Maker charted at number 1 on Billboard's Christian Song Writers for 10 weeks+. It has also been translated into over 50 languages and covered by many artists from different parts of the world.
In the lyrics, Sinach extols God for coming through for his people when there seems to be no way. This relates to the fact that God is a dependable partner that one can ever have, because with him, nothing is impossible.
SINACH: Live in Lakewood Church | Way Maker
2. Onise Iyanu by Nathaniel Bassey
A fact about this song is that it is sung in most Nigerian churches on Sundays during praise and worship sessions. It is by far one of the most popular and greatest of Nathaniel Bassey's songs.
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A track off of "This God is Too Good" album, Onise Iyanu seeps us into an atmosphere of sincere worship and connection to spirituality anytime it hits the speakers.
3. Excess Love by Mercy Chinwo
Another song that has enjoyed and sustained quite a number of organic listeners is Excess Love. Released in 2015, the song quickly became people's favourite and remained so for a long time.
This track talks about the love of God, which is inexhaustible. The persona describes it as "excess" because it wells up to eternal life. Though this love is extendable to sinners, the lyrics highlight that only those who are the sons of God bask in its abundance.
4. Only You Jesus by Ada Ehi
The central message of this track is that God's place, and power cannot be contested. It acknowledges the supremacy of God and the power in His name.
Captioning the song, Ada Ehi says: "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever!
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This global hit has amassed a whooping stream of over 100 million on YouTube.
5. You are Great by Steve Crown
The miracles of Jesus and other acts of God that hold us spell bound are all summarised in the lyrics of You are Great. In the song, Steve Crown reminisces on the signs and wonders that God has wrought in the past and present.
A hit, You are Great is a great booster for Steve Crown and his music. He flourished, toured different countries, and sang at different concerts. The song is still the rave of the moment, though; people still lip the lyrics either individually or collectively in churches.
