Tope Alabi: Aboru Aboye is a Yoruba language, not for Ifa priests

Popular Nigerian gospel singer Tope Alabi has responded to the controversy that has surrounded her viral video in which she can be heard singing in Yoruba using the word “Aboru Aboye,” a form of greeting among Ifa initiates.

Alabi sang the line, “Abiye ni mi, Oruko mi ni yen” in the viral video, referring to herself as “ebo,” which is a word that literally means sacrifice. “I am a sacrifice, that’s my name,” said Mo de bo, “Mo ru, Mo ye. I go by the name “I am a sacrifice accepted by God.”

Since then, the lyrics have sparked a flurry of media responses as her supporters and some Christian leaders argue over her choice of words.

According to a video seen by The PUNCH, the Grammy-winning singer who was seen preaching in a white robe church claimed that “Aboru Aboye” is a true Yoruba language and is not just the domain of traditionalists.

Alabi, who clarified with a biblical allusion, said that her skillful use of language continued to be a distinctive aspect of her work as a gospel performer.

“David made a sacrifice out of loyalty to God, it was recorded,” she remarked. Why was the word sacrifice not translated into the Yoruba language using the same English word? The language is Yoruba. Traditionalists do not speak a special language. The Yoruba language is spoken by all of us.

“It is not a bad thing if some people claim they want to use the language in their own style. In addition, we have chosen to employ it in our own manner.

She questioned, “Was Abraham’s sacrifice accepted or not? “, while reiterating that sacrifices were made in the Bible. Was Isaac not treated similarly?

Brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living, holy sacrifice, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, she said, citing Romans 12:1 specifically to support her points. Aboru means “acceptable,” and Aboye means “living sacrifice.”

The award-winning singer was advised to conduct an ancestry Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test to be certain of her ancestry, according to The PUNCH. Oluwo Jogbodo Orunmila, an Ifa-priest, reportedly gave this advice.

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 entwined with the usage of traditionalists’ lexicons.

He spoke of the singer’s use of “Eledumare” and other praises that are typically reserved for the Yoruba gods and Orunmila (the god of wisdom).

According to him, anyone who has accused Alabi of idol worshiping is only stoking public opinion and is not particularly knowledgeable enough to understand that Ifa only identifies people who want to be identified because it values secrecy.

Orunmila responded in the negative when asked if the phrase was common vocabulary that anyone could use. The Ifa initiates most definitely use it.

On how the phrase came to be used as a greeting by Ifa initiates, he explained that the stories of three women named Aboru, Aboye, and Abosise who provided special assistance to Orunmila were birthed by Odu Ifa’s “Ogunda meji” in the Ifa corpus.