By Owei Lakemfa
The firestorm amongst some Christian leaders in Western Nigeria over the lyrics of a brand new tune by Gospel artist, Tope Alabi, is in its fourth week.
She had sang in Yoruba that she is “Aboru Aboye” which interprets to “I’m a sacrifice which God has accepted.” This prompted an uproar with some Christian leaders accusing her of introducing conventional faith idolatry into Christianity. They claimed that ‘Aboru Aboye’ is the language of Ifa monks, so she is selling indigenous faith to the detriment of Christianity.
The cost is led by Funmi Aragabye, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Gospel Musicians Affiliation of Nigeria, GOMAN, who to find Alabi responsible of heresy declared: “Tope Alabi believes she is above everybody and God… She doesn’t belong to anybody; she is neither right here nor there. The present state of the nation is why many act the way in which they do. Folks take God as a right for being so merciful. Many individuals immediately are simply worshipping God with their mouths; it doesn’t come from their hearts.”
Aragbaye, widespread for her 1990’s hit: ‘Mo Gbo Ipe Olorun (Divine Name) added: “Most individuals preaching have no idea what they’re preaching about. They emerged from nowhere onto the scene.”
Basic Superintendent, Apostle Adeboye Ajakaiye of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, additionally joined the fray: “I do know the satan twists the issues of God for his personal use… Today, you possibly can’t distinguish a Christian from the world in all methods, from dressing, speaking, use of worldly vibes in Christian songs, dancing, and so on.” Tope Alabi has in the previous few days risen to her personal defence that Yoruba language is utilized by individuals of all religion.
Simply as Hosea stated: “My individuals perish from lack of awareness”(Hosea 4:6), so are these attacking Alabi missing within the fundamental information that each one peoples have their very own cultures and religions. So, when new religions come or rise, they often borrow from the native language. As an illustration, the Hebrews known as God Yahweh, Elohim, Adonai, Tzevaot, Shaddai, whereas the Romans Latinized Yahweh as Jehovah. All these have discovered their approach into Christianity. The Izon name God Oyin, amongst different names. The Hausas name him Ubangiji, whereas the Igbo name him Chineke (Creator of the Universe), Chukwu or Olisa.
The Yorubas name the Almighty by numerous indigenous names however the most well-liked being Olorun (Proprietor of the universe) and Olodumare. Odu, means pot and mare means inexhaustible. Famous thinker, Professor Sophie Oluwole defined that Olodumare, which Yorubas irrespective of spiritual inclinations name God, actually means: “the person who has the pot that’s not exhaustible. In English, it means Almighty; the whole lot is inside it.”
So, why would the spiritual leaders who condemn Alabi, settle for Olodumare however reject Aboru Aboye when it’s the similar Yoruba language?
Paradoxically, Evangelist Tope Alabi isn’t any completely different from her traducers; she isn’t any much less a fanatic. When in 2021, rising gospel artist, Adeyinka Alaseyori, launched successful tune ‘Oniduro Mi’, which means that the Almighty is my Guarantor who by no means fails, Tope Alabi roundly condemned her for alleged unChristian conduct.
In claiming divine inspiration, Alabi attacked the younger artist: “God is past being a guarantor to Man…after we obtain heavenly inspiration to sing, there are some deliberations we will need to have with the Holy Spirit earlier than we are able to convey out such a tune. If we preserve singing the gospel simply because the Spirit-inspired, there’s the chance that all of us shall be singing absurdly. As gospel singers, God has given us the mind to digest, chew, and totally comprehend the inspiration given to us earlier than we convey it to life.”
These sitting in judgement over Tope Alabi, and she or he sitting in judgement over others, remind me of the admonition within the Gospel of Matthew: “Don’t decide, otherwise you too shall be judged. For in the identical approach you decide others, you may be judged, and with the measure you utilize, it is going to be measured to you. Why do you take a look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no consideration to the log in your individual eye…You hypocrite, first take the log off of your individual eye, after which you will note clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7: 1-5)
It’s instructive that whereas indigenous African religions have a really excessive stage of tolerance and appreciation of different peoples’ religion, the identical can’t be stated of the primary religions.
As an illustration, Yeye Ajesikemi Olokun Olatunji, who regardless of being a devotee of Aje Olokun, helps to construct a mosque in Ilorin, has determined to cancel the normal Isese Pageant slated from July 22 to 24, 2023 as a result of some Muslim leaders object to holding the pageant.
Though some huge cash has been spent on the preparations, company across the nation and overseas invited, and she or he has the constitutional and human proper to practise her religion, she stated: “I cancelled the celebration as a result of I don’t need any disaster; I don’t need individuals to see me as a troublemaker and I don’t need individuals to label me as having prompted a non secular disaster in Ilorin.”
Explaining the tenets of her faith, she stated: “God has proven every particular person what they may do to succeed and enter paradise…God is aware of the guts of each human being and it will depend on your thoughts and communication together with your Creator. I do know that God solutions prayers; it will depend on the way you pray to Him.”
On this, she is displaying a deep understanding of religion, tolerance, a excessive sense of civility and gumption, and a superiority of place. Because the Yorubas say: your character is what portrays your faith.
Whereas some spiritual adherents attempt to impose their religion on different individuals and even incinerate human beings for alleged spiritual infractions, others present good examples. Maybe essentially the most tolerant and even handed political chief within the nation immediately is the rapid previous Minister of Inside, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. In his eight years as Osun State Governor, he elevated the indigenous faith to the identical pedestal as Islam and Christianity.
At state features, prayers have been provided within the three religions, and he attended the primary indigenous spiritual festivals within the state, together with the Osun-Oshogbo, the Iwude Ijesha and the Olojo Pageant in Ile-Ife. His administration additionally launched a public vacation, the ‘Isese Day’ for adherents of indigenous faith. So, we don’t lack good examples. Like Chinua Achebe wrote in Issues Fall Aside: “You should have what is sweet for you and I’ll have what is sweet for me. Let the kite perch and let the eagle perch too. If one says no to the opposite, let his wing break.”
