Top Nigerian gospel singer, Tope Alabi, has defended the use of controversial slang, ‘Aboru Aboye’ with biblical reference.
Politics Nigeria recalls that Alabi, in a recent video, referred to herself as ‘ebo’ literally meaning sacrifice, while also singing the words, “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.
Meanwhile, Alabi who explained with bible reference, also clarified that her deft use of the language remained her peculiar style as a gospel artiste.
“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,” Alabi said.
“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.”
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 word ‘acceptable’ is the ‘Aboru’ while ‘living sacrifice’ is Aboye”.
