Ooni renews call for Afro-Brazilians’ return to ancestral homeland

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has once again urged Afro-Brazilians to reconnect with their ancestral homeland in Africa. The monarch emphasized the significance of unity, cultural heritage, and improved relations between Brazil and the Yoruba people during a congratulatory message to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his re-election.

Ogunwusi, described by the palace as a friend of Africa, expressed optimism that Lula's re-elected mandate would enhance cooperation between Brazil and African nations, particularly Nigeria and the Yoruba community.

This renewed call comes in the wake of Ogunwusi's five-day visit to Brazil in 2023, during which he participated in the inauguration of Brazil's National Isese Day and introduced initiatives under his "Back To Home" program. The program aims to encourage Afro-Brazilians to reconnect with their African roots and ancestral communities.

While in Brazil, the Ooni visited major cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Bahia, and Brasília, engaging with Brazilian leaders and communities to promote cultural reconnection and African unity.

In his 2023 address, the Ooni emphasized the importance of overcoming divisions and working together towards shared development. He stressed that Afro-Brazilians should not be divided based on color or race, instead calling for unity in order to foster growth for all individuals, regardless of religious and cultural differences.

He also assured Afro-Brazilians of their welcome in Ile-Ife, which he referred to as an ancestral home for people of Yoruba heritage, offering free lands for them to build and reside within his kingdom and across Africa.

During a private meeting with Lula in Brasília, the Ooni called for direct air links between Nigeria and Brazil to boost commerce, tourism, and cultural exchange. Lula reportedly expressed appreciation for the Ooni's efforts to reconnect Afro-Brazilians with their ancestral heritage and reaffirmed his government's commitment to strengthening relations with Africa, specifically the Yoruba people.

The broader goal, according to the Ooni, is to encourage people of African descent in the diaspora to collaborate with communities on the continent for shared progress, ultimately promoting a "journey back home" where individuals from the diaspora join forces with their fellow Africans to build a stronger, unified Africa.