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| Tope Alabi [Photo: The Guardian] |
Tope Alabi, a popular Nigerian gospel singer, has responded to the controversy surrounding her viral video in which she was heard singing in Yoruba using the word 'Aboru Aboye,' a form of greeting among Ifa initiates.
In the viral video, Alabi referred to herself as 'ebo,' which means sacrifice, while singing, "Abiye ni mi, Oruko mi ni yen." "Mo de bo, mo ru, mo ye," (My name is a sacrifice. That's my name: I am a God-accepted sacrifice).
The lyrics have since sparked a media frenzy, with her fans and some Christian leaders taking sides over her choice of words.
In a video obtained by The PUNCH, the award-winning singer, who was seen ministering in a white garment church, stated that "Aboru Aboye" is a pure Yoruba language that is not limited to traditionalists.
Alabi, who explained with a bible reference, also clarified that her deft use of the language was her distinctive style as a gospel artist.
"It was recorded that David made a sacrifice of faithfulness to God," she said. Why wasn't the word sacrifice written in the Yoruba version of the Bible as the same English word? Yoruba is the language. Traditionalists do not have their own language. We are all conversing in Yoruba.
"It's not a bad thing if some people say they want to use the language in their own style. We've also decided to use it in our own unique way."
While reiterating that sacrifices were made in the Bible, she asked, "Was Abraham's sacrifice accepted or not?" Wasn't Isaac the same way?"
"Brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service," she said in establishing her points with specific reference to a bible passage, Romans 12:1. The word 'acceptable' is pronounced 'Aboru,' while 'living sacrifice' is pronounced Aboye."
According to the PUNCH, an Ifa-priest, Oluwo Jogbodo Orunmila, advised the award-winning singer to conduct an ancestry Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) test to determine her ancestry.
While speaking with The PUNCH in an exclusive interview, Orunmila, the chief priest of Iledi Imule Agba in Oyan, Odo Otin North Local Council Development Authority in Osun State, noted that Alabi has always been enmeshed in the usage of traditionalists' lexicons.
He mentioned the singer's use of the word 'Eledumare,' as well as several other compliments usually reserved for Orunmila (god of wisdom) and Yoruba deities.
He maintained that whoever has come out to label Alabi as an idol worshipper is only fueling public opinion and is especially unaware that Ifa only identifies those who want to be identified because it values secrecy.
When asked if the phrase was common lexicon that anyone could use, Orunmila replied, "It is not. It is undoubtedly used by Ifa initiates.
On how the phrase came to be a common greeting among Ifa initiates, he explained that Odu Ifa 'Ogunda meji' in the Ifa corpus birthed the stories of three women, Aboru, Aboye, and Abosise, who helped Orunmila in particular.
PUNCH