"Nyiigu buut Jwøk" ("Draw near to God") - an obeerø

The obeerø is one of the more popular indigenous Anywaa song genres. According to Osterlund (1978), obeerøs were historically composed as praise songs for an elderly or deceased chief and also often contained commentary on social life and advice for the community. More recently, with the introduction of Protestant Christianity in Gambella, the obeerø genre has been recontextualized for the Christian church. Rather than praise the chief, lyrics praise God and advise the community to live a moral Christian lifestyle.

Apay, the singer on this recording, says that this obeerø is from his father's time, probably composed between the 1950s and 1970s, when Anywaa composers in Gambella were almost exclusively composing in indigenous genres. "Nyiigu buut Jwøk" was composed by Okwori Ojullu (who currently lives in Abobo town in Gambella region) and is especially well-known amongst the older generation. According to Apay, young people are less familiar with obeerøs, preferring more modern styles. However, Apay believes this obeerø is still relevant for his community, because it allows Christianity to be contextualized in Anywaa culture. “To praise God in a deep way," he says, "We need to think about our culture…although there is a modern way, we still also need to think about how we can praise God in the way that we can feel…[that] God is for us [the Anywaa], and also with us."