On Sunday, 12th April, 2020 Popular Gospel artiste, Evang. Tope Alabi, joined the league of celebrities who have been reaching out to their numerous fans on social media, especially Instagram. Recently, the talented gospel artiste has been keeping people busy through positive interactions on Instagram live video.
It was a lovely experience and great moment for all the lovers of Tope Alabi, home and abroad, as they were able to interact, shows her love and asked several questions about her music career in an Instagram video that lasted for about 3hrs, with over 1000 participants.
Apart from several commendations and testimonies of how her songs has solved several issues of life. Tope Alabi lovers all over the world asked her different questions like: How she comes up with her lyrics? What are the inspirations behind some of her lyrics? Does she always relate some of her song with her past experience? What she has passed through? Has she ever done any collaboration with any white garment church? How does she cope with criticism?
This talented gospel artiste took her time to attend to them one after the other. In her response to the questions, she started by acknowledging the almighty God.
“It is the grace of God. “Kosieniti o le ri ohun kohun gba bi ko se pe a fi fun lati orun wa” I always seek the face of God to know what He wants me to say to his people, as there is no process unless the spirit of God communicates with you. It is the spirit of God that reveals. Some of my songs are not about what I’ve passed through. It is just to pass a message across and encourage people in what they are passing, leading by the Holy Spirit, though at times I relate my messages with many stories in the bible”, she said.
When she was asked if she has ever had any issue with her voice while planning to perform. She said it had happened to her once, in Ikorodu where she was invited to perform “Though, I was coming from another church where I had already performed that same night. There was nothing wrong with my voice until I mounted the altar. So, mounted the altar, I took the first song and I also taught the congregation the lyrics but all of a sudden I discovered that I couldn’t sing out loud again. I tried severally to manage but it was not working and I came down from the stage. I asked God if it was a spiritual attack but God said no. That it wasn’t an attack. I treated it and I was okay a few days after.
Tope Alabi, was also asked if she has done any collaboration with any white garment church? In her response, she said. “No white garment Church has ever come to me for Collaboration and if they do I will surely pray about it”.
Recall that, Iconic Singer Tope Alabi joined the Alade Aromire Theatre Group, with the hopes of becoming a celebrated thespian one day. Born on October 27, 1970, one of Tope Alabi’s earliest memories is of her mother singing. Perhaps that influenced her eventual career choice in some way but she originally started out working in TV. After obtaining her secondary school certificate from Akinyele Memorial High School in Ibadan, she went on to study mass communication at The Polytechnic, also in Ibadan. She graduated in 1990.
However, she was already plotting a career in theatre and film before attending the polytechnic. Whilst in secondary school, she joined the “Jesters International group,” a band of touring comics co-led by Nollywood comic Kayode Olaiya aka Aderupoko. This was where she got her first taste of life in the entertainment business. After securing her degree, she worked as a correspondent at NTA Ibadan and later NTA Channel 10 in Lagos.
Fast forward to 1994 and she makes another play at returning to theatre and drama. This time, she joined the Alade Aromire Theatre Group, led by late Yoruba film pioneer Late Alade Aromire. It was during her time with the group she learned the art of theatre, drama and film. She was working with the Group on various movie productions as well as stage dramas and the making of soundtracks.
Soon she found herself writing and composing soundtracks for several Yoruba films of the late 90s, setting up herself as the go-to person for film soundtracks in the Yoruba film industry. She has a unique and easily recognizable voice and could create interesting melodies by combining modern and traditional beats. To-date, Tope Alabi has provided the soundtracks to over 400 Yoruba films.
Her stardom took another leap in 2000 after she released her debut album Ooreti o common. Prior to this project, she had released singles like Ikoko Dudu, Baba Iwo la k’epe, and a non-gospel version of Ooreti o common. However, it was the gospel version of the makossa-based song that caught fire. Since then, Tope Alabi has released a further ten albums, including one in 2019 – The Spirit of Light – with photographer and singer TY Bello.
Tope Alabi is married to Soji Alabi, her manager and producer. They’ve been married for over 20 years, and they were blessed with glorious children. She has recently produced a movie called “The Weight” which she is also starring in. She has also organized the ‘Praise the Almighty’ concert for the past nine years. In 2019, she told Vanguard: “My husband and I don’t organize the concert to gain anything, other than for people to be blessed. It is a way of giving back to God; to thank Him for all that He has done. That is why it is free. My gain is that I praise God every year.” She definitely has a lot to be thankful for.
–SUNDAY ADIGUN.
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