“Hallowed Be Your Name” Is Ogaga’s Captivating Worship Capsule

By Emmanuel Daraloye
 
Ogaga’s latest drop, “Hallowed Be Your Name” climbed up on this writer’s radar lately and it’s near impossible to stop humming its catchy hook ever since. “Almighty God, Halloweth be your name,” the song’s message rings clearly as one of its strongest pillars. It is both a call to reverence the divine creator and a declaration of faith. Yet, its sweetest spot connects in its alluring arrangement and composition.
Gentle piano chords hover on hushed backing vocals as the song opens in slow chants. It packs a very rhythmic backdrop of ambient sounds, stylising the backing vocals with an airy feel. Born Ogagaoghene Ocharive, Ogaga is a standout vocalist and his delivery in ‘Hallowed Be Your Name’ reflects it clearly. In the song, Ogaga’s dramatic pitch rises just around the song’s mid-point, as well as clever soft pauses, among others, particularly colour the record with excitement. Also, the production feels both vintage and contemporary, thanks to the ambient music and choral section that adorns its composition.

Ogaga’s vocal delivery on this track is one filled with emotional intensity. He performs the song as a cocktail of adulation and praises. Over the chorus, “Almighty God, Hallowed be your name” he declares God as the “lover of my soul, redeemer of the world, saviour of eternity and mankind” among many others. His tonal balance reflects one who stealthily navigates emotional duality and evokes catharsis in his expressions. In “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, he weaves praise with the ease of someone who has spent time in God’s presence.

As the song closes, Ogaga delivers the final declaration: “You have broken the gates and set the captives free, Oghene me yo, hallowed be your name.” The phrase “Oghene me yo” (my God) in his native Isoko language adds a deeply personal and cultural layer to the worship, making it more intimate.

Interestingly, like he does in his other records, Ogaga’s brilliant fusion of wind instruments, especially the flute, enlivens his composition with a unique touch. It’s a very uplifting, soulful flute underline that connects the cinematic percussion and dramatic backing choral voices that open room for diverse expressions. The cadence changes easily, but with soothing scat singing and melismas that places Ogaga’s voice as the major transitive device throughout the entire spin. Nonetheless, he finds a way to keep the synergy between his voice and the music as tight-knit as possible, without distorting either’s flow.

Overall, “Hallowed Be Your Name” is more than a song; it is a reminder. A reminder that God still breaks gates. That He still sets captives free. That His name remains hallowed, His power unmatched, and His love unfailing. In a world that often feels overwhelming, Ogaga offers listeners a moment to breathe, to reflect, to worship and to believe again that truly, nothing is too hard for God.

Ogaga, born Ogagaoghene Ocharive, is a Nigerian gospel singer and songwriter, spanning over seven years as a recording artist. He creates music that is spiritually grounded while remaining musically gripping. His earlier records include worship tracks like ‘Send Down Revival’, ‘No Other Choice’, ‘Sacrifice (I Offer Myself)’, ‘Nothing Too Hard’, and ‘Sound of Gratitude’.