While some of the pastors who spoke with Punch saw nothing
wrong with Alabi’s choice of lyrics in the viral song, others disagreed,
arguing that the singer should not incorporate traditional terminologies into
gospel music.
Alabi made headlines last Friday following the release of a
song where she was heard singing the words ‘Aboru Aboye,’ terms mostly used by
Ifa worshippers when greeting initiates, sometimes referred to as ‘Babalawo’.
Alabi, in the viral video, could be heard singing the
lyrics; ‘Emi ni aboru, aboye… abiye ni mi, Oruko mi ni yen. Mo de bo, mo ru, mo
ye,” (I am a sacrifice, that’s my name. I am a sacrifice accepted by God,
that’s my name).
Her lyrical choices have since gotten many tongues wagging
on and off social media.
However, reacting to the viral video, Pastor Lanre Kayode,
Senior Pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church, Shibiri branch, Lagos, said the
controversy trailing the video could be blamed on the poor understanding of the
Yoruba language by some of her critics.
Pastor Kayode said, “It’s a language thing. I see nothing
wrong with what she said. She was simply praising God.”
He argued that another gospel act, Dunsin Oyekan, has a song
where he used similar words only sung in the English Language and no one raised
an eyebrow.
Oyekan, in the song titled ‘More than a Song, sang the
words: ”I am more than a song today, I am a sacrifice…” similar words to
Alabi’s but conveyed in a different language.
”Why are people not complaining about that? Is it because he
sang in English?
“Why do people not have issues with this? Is it because Tope
sang in Yoruba?” Pastor Kayode asked.
He stressed that there is nothing wrong with Tope Alabi’s
choice of words. “It’s simply a language thing. Not many people understand
Yoruba that well and that’s why they are criticising the song,” he said.
Also speaking with newsmen, Pastor Tunde Afolabi of the
Christ Redemption Church, Ogba, Lagos, kicked against the criticism of Tope
Alabi over the Aboru Aboye song saying people probably misinterpreted Alabi’s
stance on the use of the ‘Aboru Aboye’ and believed it is and can only be used
by traditionists.
He said, ”People believe she is referring to Ifa but I feel
she is worshipping her God the best way she knows how. We all have the best
ways to worship God.”
Prophet Akinyele Timothy of Celestial Church Of Christ, El
morijah Olubukun parish, Ikorodu, also backed Alabi’s use of ‘Aboru Aboye’
words in the viral video.
Prophet Timothy said, ”Tope Alabi was simply praising God.
Even the Muslims say ‘Oba Ajoke aye, Asake Orun’. They are also simply praising
God. Tope was simply acknowledging God’s might, she was not in any way
affirming that she is an Ifa worshipper. I do not see anything wrong in the
phrases she used.”
However, Pastor (Mrs.) P.S. Otitolaiye of the Mount of Fire
Ministries, Ijanikin, was against Alabi’s use of ‘Aboru Aboye’ in a gospel
song.
She said Alabi should have refrained from using traditional
phrases in her songs, noting that there is no relationship between light and
darkness.
In her words, ”Tope Alabi should endeavour not to bring in
any traditional phrase into her song because there is no relationship between
light and darkness.”
Pastor Otitolaiye, however, added that “the conversation
about the intersection of religion and culture in Nigeria is far from over.”
Speaking in the same vein, Pastor Ifeoluwa Fatoki of Divine
Grace Baptist Church Ogbomosho, a graduate of African Traditional Religion and
World Religion from the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary Ogbomoso, argued
against the use of ‘Aboru Aboye’.
He said, ”I do not think those words are appropriate in the
worship of God because they are not original to Christianity and they already
have roots in the worship of Ifa.
”I think there are better words that can be used. To refer
to the believer as a sacrifice is okay. But those three words have different
connotations. It’s like saying, Eriwo ya… No matter how we paint it, it is not
acceptable.
”More so, hallelujah, which is the Jewish word for ‘praise
Yahweh’ as a word is known in Christianity. It’s like saying, Ifa worshippers
now also say hallelujah in their worship.”