PUNCH
Some Nigerian pastors have expressed mixed reactions on whether the use of ‘Aboru Aboye’ in the viral song by popular gospel singer, Tope Alabi, is proper in a gospel song.
While some of the pastors who spoke with our correspondent 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.”
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.
