The visit of the delegation from the Arole Oduduwa Ilorin Adimula and Ooni of Ifé, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, to the city of São Paulo in Brazil on Thursday brought together leaders and influencers willing to promote the proposal of the Oduduwa Heritage Home within the project “Treasure of Our Ancestors,” an initiative of the African foremost king; Ooni Ogunwusi, with the purpose of strengthening ties and building bridges that facilitate cultural, tourist and economic exchange between Brazil and Nigeria and, in particular Ile-Ifé, the cradle and natural headquarters of all the Yoruba people and Oduduwa race at large.
Representing His Imperial Majesty, the delegation, which comprised of Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti kingdom, His Royal Majesty,Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, and the Alapomu of Apomuland, His Royal Highness, Oba Kayodee Adeenekan, the Saagba of Ogbagi-Akoko, Chief Adekunle Sumbo, a specialist in traditional the Saagba of Ogbagi medicine, Prince Adekunle Olokooba, and head of communication at the palace Comrade of the Ooni of Ife, Moses Olafare, in addition to visiting the Unidos de Vila Maria shed at Fábrica do Samba, also visited the association’s rehearsal court to learn about the school’s social project and talk a little about “Back To Home,” program that will be officially launched by the Ooni of Ifé in 2022, precisely in the month of March, when he will visit the country for the second time.
In his introductory speech, the Ooni’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Olafare urge t)Afro-Brazilians to proudly comport themselves as ambassadors of African nobility and royalty, admonishing them to take their huge population as an advantage to own the the country where they were once treated like slaves.
He said, “It is paramount on the agenda of your father back home in Ile-Ife, which is your ancestral home; Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II to stand by you and ensure you are connected to your continent of Africa.
“First of all, we need to understand that we are descendants of African royalty, we are heirs to kings, you are all princes and princesses, our ori (head) is blessed and your descent is noble. We cannot think otherwise. You, the Oduduwa descendants hold almost 60 per cent population in this country Brazil, it means you own this country and you can not be treated like second class citizens. You are heirs and sons of Oduduwa.”
Received by the president of Unidos de Vila Maria, the royal representatives watched a small Samba Dance Show, presented by the school’s cast that proposed a collaborative partnership between the social projects of Nigeria and Brazil. Former Brazilian Ambassador, Mrs Maria Auxiliadora Figueiredo, and Oba Ogboni Adekunle Aderounmu, highlighted the importance of the connection between the sister countries in addition to the fatherly messages from the Ooni by the duo of Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti and Alapomu of Apomu Kingdom.
