Funmi Aragbaye, a veteran gospel artist and current Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Gospel Musician Association of Nigeria, has criticised popular gospel singer Tope Alabi in a recently released song for her contentious use of ‘aboru aboye,’ a term often associated with Ifa worshippers.
While reacting to the recent viral video of fellow gospel musician, Tope Alabi, in which she sang using Yoruba terms connected with greetings by Ifa worshippers, Aragbaye stated the latter is acting as if she is above God.
Following the viral video of Alabi performing a song in a church using phrases connected with Ifa worshippers, she got a lot of attention.
In an exclusive phone interview with journalist, Aragbaye said that Alabi feels she is superior to everyone, including God.
She said, ”Tope Alabi believes she is above everyone and God. She is not a member of GOMAN, nor is she a member of any other gospel association. She believes she is too much for it. She doesn’t belong to anyone; she is neither here nor there.
The current state of the country is why many act the way they do. People take God for granted for being so merciful. Many people today are just worshipping God with their mouths; it doesn’t come from their hearts.
“If you speak with Pastor Bola Are, she will tell you the same thing. Most people preaching do not know what they are preaching about. They emerged from nowhere onto the scene.”
Aragbaye, whose 1990’s Mo Gbo Ipe Olorun (Divine Call) was an instant hit, blamed the media for Alabi’s success, saying despite ”fumbling for many years, the media continues to promote her.”
Efforts by reporter to get Alabi’s reaction to Aragbaye’s claims proved futile as the popular gospel act ignored messages sent and had the reporter blocked on Whatsapp.
