Adeyinka Olaiya, Sao Paulo/
Yoruba culture, tradition, and religion became the talk of the town in Brazil last weekend as its frontline activists held a festival tagged 2 Yoruba Day.
The event organized by a group known as Egbe Omo Oodua featured a series of activities attended by notable personalities in the practice of Yoruba culture and tradition, at the executive main bowl of the legislative house, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Dignitaries at the event included the Nigerian Ifa priest and academician, Dr Sikiru Salami. Yoruba priest and coordinator, Hammed Adegboyega Najeem (Omo Odo Agba); Yoruba Grand Patron, Otunba Adekunle Aderounmu, Afro-Brazilian Iya Olorisa and academician, Prof Ronilda Iyakemi Ribeiro; President, Egbe Omo Oodua in Brazil, Adeyemi Kayode Bamidele, Police Colonel and traditionalist, Mr. Mario; Honorable members and leaders of the Nigerian/Sao Paulo city mosque; His Royal Highness, Afro-Brazil Yoruba king, Oba José Mendes; Ifa High Priest, Araba Agboola Awodiran, Representatives of the Ifa shrines in Brazil, friends and families of all the Yoruba groups in Brazil; members of the newly inaugurated Oodua Progressive Union in Brazil, and Brazil-based Nigerian Fuji maestro, Tunde Chicago.
The show, a magnificent display of cultural excellence, also featured ancient Yoruba songs and dances led by the priest and priestesses present.
The Ifa rantings by Araba Agboola showed the importance of Yoruba language being taught in schools to the upcoming generation. He, however, urged sons and daughters of Oodua at the occasion to be self-custodians of the culture and tradition of their forefathers.
“We will continue to celebrate the culture and tradition of our forefathers. We are also Yoruba,” Iyalorisa Carla Mendes told NewsmakersNG.
Apart from the traditional songs and dances, the show was flavoured with the presentation of the popular “Eyo masquerade” a Lagos traditional celebration of deities.