Gospel singer Tope Alabi has finally opened up on why she used ‘Aboru Aboye’, a form of greeting among Ifa initiates, in her song.
Defending herself while ministering recently in a white garment church, the 52-year-old stated that ‘Aboru Aboye’ is from the Yoruba language, not an exclusive preserve of traditionalists.
Tope, who explained with Bible reference, also clarified that her use of the term remains her peculiar style as a gospel artiste.
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, “Was Abraham’s sacrifice accepted or not? Was it not the same with Isaac?”
To establish her point, Tope also referenced a Bible passage, Romans 12:1, and said, “’I beseech you therefore, 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.”
Tope came under criticism after she referred to herself as ‘ebo’ literally meaning ‘sacrifice’ in one of her songs.
She also said, “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).”