Tope Alabi
Tope Alabi says Aboru Aboye is purely Yoruba language. Popular Tope Alabi, a 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 sort of greeting among Ifa initiates.
In the popular 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,” (I am a sacrifice, that’s my name. I am a sacrifice accepted by God, that’s my name).
The lyrics had since triggered a flurry of reactions in the media space as her fans and some Christian leaders took sides over her choice of words.
In a video obtained by The PUNCH, the award-winning musician, who was seen ministering in a white garment church, stated that “Aboru Aboye” is a pure Yoruba language that is not exclusive to traditionalists.
Alabi, who explained with a bible reference, also underlined that her deft use of the language was her distinctive approach as a gospel performer.
“It was recorded that David made a sacrifice of faithfulness to God,” she remarked. Why wasn’t the word sacrifice written in the Yoruba version of the Bible as the same English term? Yoruba is the language. Traditionalists do not have their own language. We are all conversing in Yoruba.
“It is understandable if some people say they want to use the language in their own way.”We have also decided to use it in our own style.”
While reaffirming that sacrifices were made in the Bible, she asked, “Was Abraham’s sacrifice accepted or not?” Wasn’t Isaac the same way?”
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 term ‘acceptable’ is pronounced ‘Aboru,’ while ‘live sacrifice’ is pronounced Aboye.”
The PUNCH reported that an Ifa-priest, Oluwo Jogbodo Orunmila, had told the award-winning singer to conduct an ancestry Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) to be sure of her origin.
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, said that Alabi has always been interwoven in the usage of traditionalists’ lexicons.
He cited the singer’s usage of the word ‘Eledumare,’ as well as various other compliments generally reserved for Orunmila (god of wisdom) and Yoruba deities.
He stated that whoever has come out to label Alabi as an idol worshipper is simply fueling public opinion and is especially unaware that Ifa only identifies people who want to be identified because it values confidentiality.
When asked if the term was common vocabulary that anyone could use, Orunmila replied, “It is not”. It is certainly used by the Ifa initiates.
On how the phrase came to be a frequent greeting among Ifa initiates, he explained that Odu Ifa ‘Ogunda meji’ in the Ifa corpus originated the stories of three women, Aboru, Aboye, and Abosise, who helped Orunmila in particular.