Afro-Brazilians have called on the government of Nigeria to facilitate their connection to their ancestral roots by granting them citizenship.
This appeal was made at a recent visit of Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, and the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, at the just-concluded G-20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
At the summit, the NICO boss played the role of a Special Guest at a side event organised to celebrate this year’s Black Consciousness Month by The African Pride (TAP), a cultural, economic, and religious integration platform based in Rio, where he received calls on the need for regular convergence of Nigerians living in Brazil at their ancestral home.
The Afro-Brazilians, who trace their ancestry back to Yoruba land, specifically Oyo and Ife, have shared their concerns about feeling disconnected from their cultural identity after more than 500 years.
They have expressed a strong desire to reconnect with their roots and explore opportunities to return to their heritage in western Nigeria.
Prominent among those who made the call was a well-known sociologist and spiritual leader, Flavia Da Silva Pinto, who commended the visit and disclosed that most Nigerians in Brazil have been there for years without getting in touch with their roots.
“We are glad that today we have a Yoruba president, which is very important to us over here in Brazil. It is also important to let you know that most people were kidnapped and brought here as slaves. So we appreciate the good work you are doing, especially the efforts to organise the World Orisha Congress aimed at giving the Yoruba-centric a basis for collective spiritual community and commonality,” she said.
The Co-founder of TAP, Carolina Morais, noted that the recent visit of the Nigerian delegation to Brazil, alongside the presence of the Executive Secretary of NICO, is significant in strengthening ties and fostering deeper collaboration between the countries.
Morais emphasized the rich symbolism inherent in African culture, stressing that by engaging with and understanding these cultural spaces, both nations can deepen their connection.
Responding to the demands, Otunba Ajiboye pointed out that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration remains committed to supporting the movement of returning children in Brazil back to Nigeria.
“I stand before you, on behalf of my President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and my Honourable Minister, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa. I can tell you that for the four days I have been here, you have told me enough about your deep desire to connect back to your roots. I will take your demands and requests to the president, and they will be addressed immediately,” he said.
