Ooni inaugurates Brazil's National Orisa Day

WITH KING CHARLES

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has officially presented a Certificate of Yoruba Territory to Quilombola territory in Brazil, making the city, the first outside Africa to receive the title.

Quilombola territory in Brazil is the first place outside of Africa to earn the title after the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, officially presented it.


The highly regarded Yoruba king also gave a speech to Brazil's Federal House of Assembly on Tuesday to formally launch the nation's first-ever Orisa Day.


According to a statement from Ooni's media assistant, Moses Olafare, Ogunwusi spoke before the Brazilian Parliament at a special session for Isese practitioners commemorating the country's Orisa Day.


The Ooni claimed that by integrating cultures and promoting Yoruba culture throughout the diaspora, the royal visit aimed to close the gap between the Yoruba people and the rest of the world.


He claims that the Nigerian Royal Father and his entourage arrived in Bahia, Brazil, on Sunday and met with President Lula da Silva in Brasilia, Brazil, on Monday.


At the Quingoma neighbourhood of Lauro de Freitas, in the Salvador Metropolitan Area, the Ooni presented the title.


The delivery of the title of Yoruba territory, which would promote and protect the Yoruba history, culture, and language in the community, was hailed by the people of Quilombola.


"At the height of the slave trade in Africa, the Yoruba people were captured and forcibly taken from their home base in Nigeria. The Quilombola was credited with receiving and embracing them.


"Because the Quilombola have a long history dating back to the 17th century, the acknowledgment of Quilombola as Yoruba territory is another step in the quest for respect for African history.


"Right now, 1,200 hectares of land are inhabited by about 580 families.
The Palmares Foundation has designated Quingoma as a Quilombola region since 2013," the statement read.


Ni revealed that the Yoruba and Brazilian populations share a long and rich history that dates back to antiquity.


The efforts adopted, according to the royal father, would not only preserve history through cultural preservation, but they would also increase Brazilians' sense of kinship, which would encourage improvement in preserving Yoruba legacy across the globe.


The event, according to Ponies' statement, was highly personal for him because he is enthusiastic about preserving Yoruba culture and its ingrained values.


The Yoruba language and its culture will become more widely accepted as a result of this event.
Their faces show eagerness, as you can see.


According to Ooni, "Their Babalawos are well-versed in the Ifa doctrines and can perform the Odu-Ifa and its panegyrics like our Ifa priest do in Nigeria.


He claims that Brazilians highly value their gods like Sango, Ogun, Yemoja, and Obatala, and they have set aside days to honour them with vibrant celebrations that are full of aesthetic appeal.


"One thing I like about them is that they speak Yoruba, and it's important to unite them and demonstrate our sympathy with them by speaking Yoruba.


He continued, "This will promote positive bilateral trade between Brazil and Nigeria and it would also benefit Yoruba culture."