Soyinka visits Ooni of Ife, advocates cultural reconnection for Afro-Brazilians

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on Tuesday led a delegation of distinguished scholars and cultural advocates on a visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, as part of efforts to strengthen cultural ties between Yoruba people at home and descendants abroad, particularly in Brazil.

During the engagement, former Deputy Leader of the Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Movement, Professor Wale Adeniran, praised Soyinka’s unwavering commitment to African unity and diaspora engagement. He stressed the need to reconnect Africans in the diaspora—especially Afro-Brazilians of Yoruba origin—with their ancestral roots in Ile-Ife.

Adeniran noted that many descendants abroad are eager to understand their heritage, adding that the delegation sought the Ooni’s blessing as the recognised custodian of Yoruba civilisation. He also commended the monarch for his sustained support for diaspora communities across the world.

The Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura, further highlighted the Ooni’s humanitarian interventions, recalling how the monarch facilitated the rescue of more than 2,000 distressed Yoruba migrants from Libya and supported their rehabilitation upon return to Nigeria.

In his remarks, Professor Soyinka highlighted the growing desire among Afro-Brazilians and other Africans in the diaspora to reconnect with their history and cultural identity. He emphasised the importance of educating them on the historical realities of slavery and fostering unity that would enable them to fully rediscover their origins.

“If we do not take decisive steps now, it may take much longer to rebuild this bridge. When they come home, they can contribute to economic, cultural, and intellectual development. But above all, their deepest desire is to rediscover their origin,” Soyinka said.

Responding, the Ooni praised the Nobel Laureate for his lifelong dedication to promoting Yoruba identity and unity. He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for renaming the Lagos National Theatre as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, describing the move as a well-deserved honour.

To round off the visit, the Ooni presented Soyinka with sacred Ife bronze artefacts, a symbolic gesture recognising his contributions to cultural preservation and to strengthening ties between Yoruba people worldwide.