Tope Alabi, a popular Nigerian gospel singer, has responded to a controversy surrounding a viral video of her singing. In the video, Alabi can be seen singing in Yoruba and using the phrase ‘Aboru Aboye,’ which is a common greeting among Ifa initiates.
In her song, Alabi referred to herself as ‘ebo,’ meaning sacrifice in English, and sang, “Abiye ni mi, Oruko mi ni yen. Mo de bo, mo ru, mo ye,” which translates to “I am a sacrifice, that’s my name. I am a sacrifice accepted by God, that’s my name.”
These lyrics sparked mixed reactions from her fans and some Christian leaders who questioned her choice of words.
In a recent video, Alabi, who was ministering in a white garment church, clarified that the phrase “Aboru Aboye” is pure Yoruba and is not exclusively used by traditionalists. She further explained that her usage of the language is a characteristic feature of her as a gospel artist, citing examples from the Bible to support her point.
Alabi aimed to provide a deeper understanding of her song and address the concerns raised, emphasizing that her intention is to spread the gospel through her music while embracing her cultural heritage.
She said, “It was recorded that David made a sacrifice of faithfulness to God. Why was the word sacrifice not written as the same English word in the Yoruba version of the Bible? It is a Yoruba language. There is no special language for traditionalists. We are all speaking the Yoruba language.
“If some people say they want to use the language in their own style, it is not bad. We have also decided to use it in our own style.”
While reiterating that sacrifices were rendered in the bible, she further queried saying, “Was Abraham’s sacrifice accepted or not? Was it not the same with Isaac?”
In establishing her points with specific reference to a bible passage which is Romans 12:1, she said, “Brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. The word ‘acceptable’ is the ‘Aboru’ while ‘living sacrifice’ is Aboye.”
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