I didn’t compose ‘Odun nlo sopin’ – Deborah Fasoyin

Gospel music legend, Mrs Deborah Fasoyin, renowned for the iconic song Odun lo sopin, has revealed that she is not the composer of the timeless track.

In an interview shared online by FM 365 and reported by Church Times Nigeria on Thursday, Fasoyin disclosed that the song predates her choir’s popular 1979 recording.

“I must confess to you, till tomorrow, we don’t know the composer of the song. We only added two verses to it,” Fasoyin stated.

“There were many CAC churches in Ibadan. In those days, whenever they had revival programmes towards the end of the year, you’d hear people sing the song Odun lo sopin (meaning ‘the year is coming to an end’). That chorus belongs to CAC. We only added two verses.”

Speaking in Yoruba during the interview, Fasoyin emphasised that the song was already widely known before her choir formally recorded it.

“We didn’t go to any mountain to pray to get the song. It was everywhere before we recorded it,” she clarified.

In a 2020 interview with Sunday Scoop, the crooner who led the Christ Apostolic Church’s Good Women Choir, Ibadan, spoke on the song translation to other Nigerian languages and other things.

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Meanwhile, online commentators supported Fasoyin’s account, with some recalling that Odun lo sopin had been sung as far back as 1975.

Despite her repeated public acknowledgements over the years, many have continued to associate Fasoyin with the composition of the song.

Her honesty, however, has drawn widespread praise, with fans commending her transparency.

Odun lo sopin, popularised by Fasoyin and her choir, remains a staple in end-of-year gatherings, evoking prayers for divine protection, guidance, and provision as the year draws to a close.

The agency reports that the song’s enduring relevance and spiritual resonance have cemented its place in the hearts of many, making it a cherished tradition that transcends generations.