Onipa da woho so

Onipa da woho so (Humankind, be on your guard) for SATB chorus was composed in June 1928, and is one of Amu’s sacred songs. This is the very first of Amu’s “African Songs.” It is based on the Christian scripture 1 Peter 5:8. Up to this time, music for worship included only imported European mission hymns translated into the local languages. Amu believed if the tunes were to follow the tone in the tonal languages, it would bolster participation. He deemed the enterprise to be dangerous. As his biographer Fred Agyemang recounts it: “Amu knew he was taking two risks in this projected adventure that Sunday. He was sure that any song which sounded like [traditional song], or… indigenous lyric in church would arouse very strong feelings; it could be outrageous to many orthodox and conservative members of the congregation. Secondly, he was going to conduct his students of the seminary to sing this innovative song at church; he would be criticized for contaminating the minds and souls of the students with his pagan songs. To his critics, indigenous music was pagan music” (Agyemang, Amu the African, p. 68). Rather, the congregation was deeply moved. This song was the beginning of a whole new genre of music for worship.