A viral video of a young man proudly flashing a massive Tope Alabi tattoo on his arm while puffing away on what appears to be a joint has ignited a firestorm of debate online, with netizens split between hailing it as “holy herb homage” and slamming it as sacrilege. The clip, which has racked up over 300,000 views on TikTok and Instagram in 48 hours, captures the unidentified dude in a casual vibe, exhaling smoke rings before zooming in on the intricate ink of the gospel queen’s face, captioned: “My forever inspiration. Tope Alabi, even in my highs, you’re my anchor.”
The footage, shared initially on September 24, shows the man – estimated in his mid-20s, rocking a simple white tee and beaded necklace – grinning ear-to-ear as he declares, “This tattoo no be joke; na Tope Alabi carry me go church every Sunday, even when I dey ‘sm0k!!ng’ my peace.” He proceeds to mimic her signature melodic hum from hits like “Olorun Agbaye,” blending the tune with a hazy laugh track that some viewers found oddly devotional. The post exploded when it hit X (formerly Twitter), where the quote “He’s using the plant from the most high to praise the most high, He fit get good heart pass some pastors” – dropped by a supporter – became the unofficial rallying cry for the pro-side.
Tope Alabi, the 42-year-old Yoruba gospel powerhouse behind soul-stirring anthems like “Kose E Se” and “Gba Gbogbo Ogo,” has long been a beacon for fans blending faith with everyday grit. With over 5 million Instagram followers and a discography that’s soundtracked countless Nigerian weddings and revivals, her image etched in skin isn’t new – but pairing it with a blatant nod to weed? That’s fresh controversy. “If ganja na from God like some rasta say, then this bro dey do double worship,” one commenter quipped, while another fired back: “Blasphemy! Tattoos alone dey questionable, now this? Repent before thunder fire una.”
The divide is stark: On one flank, the defenders – mostly Gen Z and millennials – are leaning into cultural fusion, arguing the man’s authenticity trumps performative piety. “He fit get good heart pass some pastors wey dey chop tithe for private jet,” echoed a viral thread starter, amassing 15,000 likes and sparking memes of holy smokers photoshopped into Alabi’s music videos. Supporters point to broader convos on “sacrament” highs, citing Bob Marley’s Rastafarian roots and even biblical herbs like “calamus” in Exodus for anointing oil. One user, @HerbHealer247, dropped: “Tope’s songs saved me from depression; if smoke helps me vibe to them, who’s judging? #HolyHighs.”
Critics, however, aren’t mincing words, flooding replies with Bible verses (Leviticus 19:28 on tattoos, anyone?) and calls for Alabi herself to weigh in. “This na how una go drag our mama into una sin? Block and unfollow!” raged a self-proclaimed churchgoer, while another lamented, “Gospel no be fashion statement for weed sessions. Tope deserve better.” The backlash has even pulled in pastors’ pages, with one megachurch account reposting the video as a “cautionary tale” on social media temptations. Stats from the clip’s metrics show a 60-40 split in comments: praise vs. prayer requests.
This isn’t the first time Alabi’s devout fanbase has clashed with modern twists. Back in 2023, her collab with secular Afrobeats star Fireboy DML on a remix drew similar heat for “diluting the gospel,” only for her to clap back in an interview: “Music is ministry; God speaks through all vessels.” Fans speculate the tattoo guy, who’s gone radio silent post-viral, might be inspired by that ethos – or just a cheeky devotee testing boundaries.
As the smoke clears (pun intended), the video’s underscoring Nigeria’s evolving faith-scape: Where once piety was pristine, now it’s personal, hazy, and hashtag-heavy. Will Tope Alabi respond? Her team hasn’t commented yet, but if history’s a guide, expect grace over shade. For now, the man’s ink-and-inhale moment is a mirror – reflecting how we worship, what we inhale, and who’s really got the “good heart” in the comments. One thing’s certain: In the church of the algorithm, devotion’s getting a whole new high.