Monarchs Ooni and Alaafin join forces as Nigeria and Brazil finalize agreement on Orisha convention

Nigeria and Brazil have formalized an agreement to host the World Orisha Congress, a significant cultural event that aims to reunite people of African descent with their heritage, with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Abdulhakeem Owoade I, at the forefront of this initiative.

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This major cultural endeavor seeks to leverage a shared cultural legacy to forge stronger bonds among people of African descent and position Nigeria as a central hub for this effort, extending beyond a single event to a broader movement.

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A meeting between Biodun Ajiboye, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, and Carlos Garcete, the Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, held at the Brazilian Embassy in Abuja, paved the way for this development, focusing on the practical aspects of the project, including logistics and participant engagement.

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Brazil's substantial Afro-descendant population, which plays a pivotal role in the country's cultural landscape, significantly influenced the discussion, highlighting the importance of this demographic in shaping the project's trajectory.

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According to Ajiboye, the concept of the World Orisha Congress is rooted in the fact that Orisha originates from Yorubaland in South-West Nigeria, and the initiative aims to create a dedicated space, known as WOOCON City, where Orisha descendants from around the world can gather twice or three times a year.

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Ajiboye emphasized that the idea resonates with the long-standing desire of many Afro-descendants in Brazil to reconnect with their African roots, and he expressed his commitment to supporting the project, stating, "We are ready to assist you, especially with ideas and any other capacity we can, once we understand the details of the project."

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The Orisha Congress is envisioned as a recurring global gathering that will bring together practitioners, scholars, and cultural leaders, with proposals for multiple meetings each year, and will be overseen by a Board of Trustees chaired by the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, with the Alaafin of Oyo, Abimbola Abdulhakeem Owoade I, serving as co-chairman.

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Ajiboye will serve as secretary of the board, which will also include notable patrons such as Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and renowned scholar Wande Abimbola, alongside several traditional rulers who will be part of its council, providing guidance and support to the initiative.

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As part of the ongoing engagements, the Ooni of Ife is expected to lead a delegation to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to advance discussions on the WOOCON agenda, further solidifying the project's foundation and trajectory.

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Envisioned as an annual global event, the congress aims to celebrate, preserve, and promote the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Orisha tradition, while strengthening ties between Africa and Afro-descendant communities worldwide, fostering a deeper sense of connection and shared identity among participants.