The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, has announced a strategic partnership with the Brazilian Consulate to introduce an accreditation process for Yoruba traditional practitioners. This initiative will serve as a prerequisite for visa issuance to Brazil for individuals such as Babalawos, Ifa priests, and traditional kings.
Speaking at a press conference on the forthcoming World Orisha Congress (WOOCON), held at the Brazilian Consulate in Lagos on May 12, 2025, NICO’s Executive Secretary, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, said the partnership was necessitated by repeated reports of unethical practices by impostors claiming to be Yoruba spiritual leaders. These practices, he noted, have tarnished the global reputation of the Yoruba Orisha tradition.
To address this, NICO is collaborating with stakeholders and traditional institutions to develop a comprehensive verification system that ensures only authentic practitioners represent Nigeria’s spiritual heritage abroad. The accreditation initiative will extend to countries with large Yoruba cultural diasporas including Cuba, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the United States.
Additionally, NICO plans to establish a dedicated cultural support platform for international traditional worshippers who wish to explore Nigeria’s cultural heritage. This initiative aims to facilitate cultural immersion and ensure a genuine, respectful experience of Yoruba spirituality.
Ambassador Manuel Inocencio de Lacerda Santos Junior, Consul General of Brazil in Lagos, applauded Nigeria’s efforts to preserve the integrity of Yoruba culture in Brazil. He emphasized the historical and spiritual bonds between both nations, rooted in the survival of Yoruba traditions during the transatlantic slave trade. Highlighting the evolution of Candomblé in Brazil—particularly its Ketu nation form—he underscored the enduring reverence for Orishas such as Yemanjá, Ogun, and Oshum, which remain central to Brazil’s spiritual identity.
Also speaking at the event, Ajoyemi Olabisi Osunleye, President of Oduduwa Heritage Home in Brazil and international consultant to WOOCON, decried the global misrepresentation of the Orisha tradition. He stressed that the tradition is rooted in cosmic order, divine intelligence, and harmony with nature—not superstition or fear.
“The Orisha tradition is not evil. It is sacred knowledge—wisdom passed down through millennia. The Congress is a re-education platform to shift global perceptions and showcase the intelligence and spirituality of African traditions,” Osunleye said.
Goodwill messages were delivered by notable figures, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who chairs the WOOCON Board of Trustees; Ambassador Erieka Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora African Forum (DAF); Olori Francis Meshioye, Professor Wole Soyinka, and Professor Wande Abimbola.
The WOOCON initiative signals a renewed commitment to cultural diplomacy and a shared vision between Nigeria and Brazil to protect and promote their intertwined spiritual heritage.
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