The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Engr. Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has congratulated the President of Brazil, His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on his electoral victory and his recently celebrated 81st birthday.
The Paramount Ruler also felicitated the citizens of Brazil, whose history, he said, “demonstrates the importance of democratic participation in shaping its future.”
In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, Oba Owoade said:
“As the Alaafin of Oyo, and representative of a historical civilizational tradition of profound significance to the heritage of the Yoruba people, I recognize the historical importance of the Yoruba people in shaping the cultural connections between West Africa and Brazil. The Yoruba presence in Brazilian society, alongside the contributions of numerous other African peoples and the Indigenous people native to this land, forms part of a rich and diverse human heritage whose significance deserves to be recognized, studied and preserved.”
According to the monarch, this heritage is reflected in language, collective memory, artistic expression, traditional knowledge, community organization and African-derived religious traditions.
“It is a living inheritance that transcends geographical boundaries and serves as a bridge between our peoples. Preserving it means acknowledging Africa’s contribution to the formation of Brazil and strengthening the bonds between present and future generations,” Oba Owoade stated.
He stressed that the historical bonds between Brazil, Nigeria and the Yoruba people continue to inspire initiatives founded upon friendship, mutual respect and cooperation.
Oba Owoade therefore called for “the memory of our ancestors to be honoured through contemporary relations based upon sovereign equality, solidarity among nations and recognition of the contribution of every people to the history of humanity.”
