Brazilian cities and downtowns have been agog with the picture of the Ooni beginning from this week with millions of workers requesting for day offs in order to receive the Yoruba King that many blacks in Brazil see as the symbol of their history and heritage. Radio stations and TVs are agog with reports of the historic visit. The Ooni is expected to be received by the President of Brazil, Michel Temer.
"The black Pope is coming to Brazil. We are proud. It is the most outstanding symbol that we blacks in Brazil have culture, heritage and civilisations inspite of the attempts to wipe off our past", Pontio Saluba of Rio De Janereo wrote in his face book. The Ooni is the spiritual head of the Yoruba estimated to be millions of peoples spread indigenous to about 80 countries.
Millions of black Brazilians see Yorubaland as their ancestral home and the Ooni their link with spirituality in a foreign land where many of them were exported as slaves hundreds of years ago.Many of them believe the Ooni has healing powers and that mere seeing his face can enact some goodwill and personal fortunes.
A release from the royal palace signed by Moses Olafare and made available to Irohinoodua said the historic visit is to strengthen the cultural affinities between the Afro-Brazilians and Yorubas in Nigeria with a view to using cultural heritage for an economic partnership that will be beneficial to the two countries.
He said the trip will also strategically enable the African foremost monarch to showcase tourism potentials of Nigeria attracting Brazilians to the country under the diaspora programme and open an heritage house as an export point for Nigerian businesses under the Nigerian Diaspora Exchange of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council(NEPC).
As the Spiritual Head of Yoruba race globally, Ooni Ogunwusi is saddled with the responsibility of uniting African descendants of Yoruba extract throughout the world estimated to be more than 500 million in over 80 countries.
Ooni Ogunwusi who recently honored the outgoing Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Maria Auxiliadora Figueiredo with Oodua Descendant Award of Excellence in recognition of her efforts in promoting cultural exchange between Nigeria and Brazil, attaches utmost importance to the South American country recalling that over 13 million people most of whom were Yoruba were taken from Africa to Brazil via Bahia, many centuries ago.
The population has greatly increased as we today have about 80 million Brazilians claiming thier ancestral root back to Ile-Ife in Yorubaland and still keeping our heritage intact till date in their country. This also informed Ooni's choice of States of Bahia, Rio De Janeiro and Minas where the Yoruba cultures are being proudly showcased to be the historical visit destinations.
Ooni Ogunwusi will be in Salvador de Bahia to declare the City of Bahia as the spiritual Capital of all Yorubas in the Americas, he will be in Rio de Janeiro to present a message on religious tolerance and peace at the State Parliament and also meet with the business community. He will deliver lectures at some Universities alongside Professors Wole Soyinka, Wande Abimbola, Sophie Oluwole etc.
His visit will mark a new beginning with giant strides capable of strengthening the age long diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Brazil. This will allow cultural, economic and spiritual exchanges that will yield revenues for our people.
The Afro-Brazilians are proud to be connected to the ancient Kingdom of Ile-Ife being their cradle and eager to visit their roots from time to time as they daily troop out enmass to view the giant statue of Olokun Bronze Head(ori olokun), one of the biggest tourist attractions in Brazil conspicuously located on one of the busiest Highways in Rio De Janeiro to immortalise Oduduwa believed to had come to conquer slavery for them many centuries ago in form of spirit.
Other functions to be performed by the Ooni during the historical visit include a prayer procession for peace and repose of the souls of enslaved Africans, receptions by the State government of Bahia and Salvador Municipal Authorities, Declaration of Bahia as the Yoruba Capital in the Americas, meet the Governor of Salvador De Bahia, unveiling of the statue of Oduduwa in Bahia, Declaration of Annual Yoruba celebration in Bahia, MOUs on the teaching of Yoruba language in Bahia state schools, visitation to Ori Olokun heritage site in Rio De Janeiro where Nigerian products will be displayed, visit the Tomorrow Museum at Rio, attend Inter-religious meeting at Cristo Redentor Church, meeting with Governor of Minas, visit to Yemoja Square at Pampulha Lake, Business Forum at FIEMG - Minas Gerais State Industrial Federations, Dinner with political, cultural and religious and human rights leaders.
Ooni Ogunwusi who will be accompanied by 120 entourage to include some notable traditional rulers, aides, cultural troupes, business captains, prominent herbal medicine practitioners, representatives of relevant government agencies like NIPC, NEPC, NTDC, and other stakeholders like NACCIMA departs Nigeria on the 6th and expected to return to the country on 17th June 2018.
By Ayo Oluwole
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