A five-man delegation of the Osun State government is in Brazil from August 11th to 19th, 2024. The delegation is made up Prince Ayodeji Lukman Wahab (Sango of Africa), Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Cultural Affairs; Oba Lawal Munirudeen Adesola , Laminisa 1st (the Timi of Ede);  Alhaji Akindeere Adam Akintunde, Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, and Mr. Adeoti Ademola Yakubu. The visit is to strategically position Osun State within Brazil as a prime religious and cultural destination, taking advantage the established community of Osun deity devotees. This visit was proposed by the African Pride Company, Brazil in conjunction with the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Cultural Affairs. The African Pride Company managed By Carolina Maira Morais and  Ajoyemi Olabisi Osunleye has been at the forefront building stronger ties between Brazil and Nigeria. 

Brazil, with a population of about 215 million, has about 58 percent (around 124 million) identifying as Afro-Brazilian or people of African descent. Of this population, about 85 million either practice or identify with, or connect with the Yoruba Orisa religion. This initiative draws inspiration from the two visits of His Imperial Majesty, Ooni  Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II,  in 2018 and 2023. During these visits, he met with Brazilian President Lula da Silva and addressed the nation in a special session at the Federal Parliament.In Brazil, deities such as Iyemoja, Esu, Iansa, Sango, Osun, Ogun, and Oxossi are the most widely followed Orisas.

Osun State aims to intentionally connect Osun devotees in Brazil with their spiritual roots in Osun State, Nigeria.This connection is intended to encourage regular visits to Osun State for religious pilgrimages, tourism, educational exchanges, and economic partnerships.Brazil will host the G20 summit in November this year, coinciding with the country’s Black Consciousness Month. During this time, Afro-Brazilians are increasingly seeking opportunities to connect with Africa.

Approximately 14 million Brazilians are devotees of the Osun deity, and connecting just 10 percent  of this population with Osun State could significantly boost tourism and attract Brazilian investors to strengthen Osun State’s economy.This visit marks the first official engagement between Osun State and Brazil, and it promises to generate significant interest. The delegation will be hosted at the Rio de Janeiro Parliament and a respected Ile Ase in São Paulo, with various closed-door business meetings planned. We believe this visit will ignite greater interest among Afro-Brazilians in viewing Africa as their ancestral homeland and will help dispel the narrative that their African brothers sold, forgot, and abandoned them during and after slavery.