The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy is set to collaborate with the Brazilian Consulate on accreditation of Yoruba traditional practitioners (Babalawo’s, Ifa Priests, and Traditional Kings as a requisite requirement before issuance of visas to visit Brazil.
A statement made available to the media on Tuesday through the Media Assistant to Executive Secretary, NICO, Caleb Nor confirmed this development.
Executive Secretary of NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye who disclosed this at press conference on World Orisha Congress (WOOCON), organized by the Institute at the Brazilian Consulate in Lagos on Monday, May 12, 2025, said the need to partner with the Brazilian government was informed by the continued reports of unethical practices by individuals, masquerading as babalawos, Ifa priests, and traditional practitioners, which he said have tarnished the integrity of Yoruba Orisha tradition.
To address this menace, the Institute is working closely with relevant stakeholders and key traditional institutions in Nigeria to establish a proper verification and accreditation system for traditional practitioners seeking to engage in cultural and religious exchanges, particularly in Brazil and other countries of interest including Cuba, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Mexico and the United States to mention a few.
NICO will also create a structured platform to assist traditional worshipers across the globe who wish to visit Nigeria for cultural exploration and convergence to ensure that they experience the best hospitality and authentic connection to their heritage when visiting Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, the Consular General of Brazil in Lagos, His Excellency, Ambassador Manuel Inocencio de Lacerda Santos Junior, expressed his appreciation to the Nigerian government for the bold step it has taken to uphold the enduring legacy of Yoruba and Orisha culture in Brazil.
“I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today about a vital and vibrant cultural heritage that lives at the heart of Brazilian identity: the enduring presence of Yoruba and Orisha culture in Brazil”.
“When hundreds of thousands of Africans were forcibly brought to Brazil during the transatlantic slave trade, they carried with them not only their labour but also their languages, beliefs, and traditions. Among the most influential of these African cultures was that of the Orisha and of the Yoruba people, originally from what is now Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo”.
“In Brazil, the Yoruba spiritual system evolved into what we know today as Candomblé, particularly the Ketu nation within it. Candomblé is a religion rooted in the veneration of the Orishas—divine forces or deities that represent natural elements and human characteristics. Each Orisha, like Yemanjá (goddess of the sea), Ogun (god of iron and war), and Oshum (goddess of love and fresh water), is connected to both the spiritual and the material world. These Orishas are not only prayed to; but celebrated with music, dance, and ritual”.
“Thus, we are bonded by a history that unites us in a very special way, and the rich Afro-Brazilian culture is a connection that sets the foundations for a genuine partnership, based on mutual respect and cooperation. Despite unimaginable hardships, these communities preserved their spiritual beliefs”.
In a brief remark, the President, Oduduwa Heritage Home in Brazil and International Consultant to WOOCON, Ajoyemi Olabisi Osunleye, decried the level our sacred traditions have been relegated to the back and called for the need to reconnect back to our roots; our ancestors and our purpose while refusing to be torn between religions, ideologies, and foreign expectations.
“The Orisha tradition is not about demons or fear. It is about divine order, cosmic intelligence, and harmony with nature. The Orisha tradition is not evil. It is not demonic. It is sacred knowledge—wisdom passed down across millennia. What we must do is present it not as fearsome, but as beautiful, intelligent and divine”.
“This is why the Congress matters. It is a re-education. It is a platform to shift global perceptions. It is a place where priests will sit beside professors, where ritual meets reason, and where heritage meets innovation. Our goal is to showcase the sophistication and spirituality of African traditions”, he said.
There were goodwill messages from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of WOOCON; Her Excellency, Ambassador Erieka Bennett, Founder and Head of Mission, Diaspora African Forum (DAF); Olori Francis Meshioye, OFR, Professor Wole Soyinka, and Professor Wande Abimbola.
