Ifa, Yoruba Traditionalists to Earn Academic Laurels in Brazil …UFMG Honours Practitioners with PhD

Adeyinka Olaiya, Editor-at-Large, Sao Paulo/

Doctorate degrees are now available in Brazil for Yoruba traditionalists with deep knowledge of Ifa and Orisha.

The academic board of the Federal University of Mina Gerais, Brazil (UFMG) has given the Yoruba religious practice a pride of place in the Ivory Tower.

The University commission has also reorganized the African traditional religion, the practice and teachings among several other important disciplines due for academic honours, and included Candomblé, Umbanda – Brazil’s version of the Yoruba traditional religion among several other meaningful careers and teachings worthy of ‘Notórios Saberes’ honors, equivalents of doctorate degrees in the practice and teachings of the African, Yoruba traditional religion in Brazil.

According to the Brazilian universities commission, this resolution will be the first of its kind in Brazil.

“Our Colleges and Universities already award ‘Notórios Saberes’ to distinct men and women in the sciences. The UFMG is recognizing the important ones who preserve the African heritage, the Yoruba traditionalists and several other important ones in the society, the ones promoting the values of the African culture, tradition and religion, this includes the Nigerian Yoruba IFA and Orisha practitioners excelling in Brazil and around the world. It is academic and equivalent to doctorate degrees. The African heritage is a blessing to Brazil,” Camilla Exposito, a secretary at UFMG postgraduate school, told NewsmakersNG.

The “Notorio Saberes” honors is academically equivalent to a PHD degree in Brazilian universities. It is an award to honor distinct professionals in the society, the ones that have not gone through the university education but are as exceptional as holders of the university doctorate degrees. These unique professionals are the ones teaching the society and equally passing their knowledge to students in various universities in Brazil and around the world.

As the most populous black nation out of Africa, Brazil is having more traditional shrines around the country than any other country in the world. UFMG has created the opportunities for Yoruba traditionalists who can teach Ifa, Orisha tradition to have their efforts crowned academically. They can now frequent the universities in Brazil and extend the real knowledge of the African religion and culture to the students.

Larissa Carvalho, the Brazil Globo television reporter who is also a Yoruba traditional worshipper, said, “Brazil will set the pace for every other African country. We use this opportunity to invite all Ifa and Orisha scholars and traditionalists in Africa to visit Brazil and share their knowledge with us.”

She congratulated the UFMG for setting the pace for others.

While addressing the press, Sandra Regina Goulart, the rector of the University, said that the development would help “promote and preserve the immaterial patrimony of our Ancestors”.

She added, “It will give honor and due respect to the beauties and the importance of the African heritage in Brazil.”

She said that the honors would pass through the normal academic procedures of the university, and “it is equivalent to a PhD”.

According to Goulart, the university has engaged some distinct traditionalists as teachers and advised other universities to follow suit.