Abuja: Nigeria is set to host the maiden edition of the World Orisa Congress, an official has announced. Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), revealed the plans for this significant event during a news conference in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the World Orisa Congress is intended to be an annual global gathering of practitioners, scholars, and enthusiasts of the Orisa tradition, a Yoruba traditional religion. The congress will see participation from countries such as Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, and other Caribbean nations where Orisa tradition is practiced, although the date for the event has yet to be announced.
Ajiboye emphasized that the World Orisa Congress will serve as a bridge between Africans in the Diaspora and their cultural roots. He highlighted the historical context of Africans taken into slavery over 500 years ago and their descendants’ desire to reconnect with their heritage. Ajiboye noted that there are approximately 500 million people globally connected to African traditional religion, and the congress aims to unite these individuals in their ancestral homeland.
The congress is expected to foster cultural identity and spiritual connections while tapping into a vast network of Orisa descendants. Ajiboye mentioned that in Brazil alone, there are over 89 million people eager to participate in this vision. Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, Nigeria received numerous proposals for collaboration, aligning with NICO’s goals for a comprehensive spiritual, cultural, and socio-economic partnership.
Ajiboye projected that the event would generate between five to six billion U.S. dollars as Nigeria anticipates hosting over one million visitors. Beyond cultural exchange, the congress promises economic benefits through tourism and cultural trade, as well as promoting global understanding and peace. He noted that the congress aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to enhance Nigeria’s GDP and improve living standards by generating foreign exchange earnings.
In addition to boosting the economy, the World Orisa Congress seeks to dismantle cultural barriers, enhance Nigeria’s foreign policy, and establish a sustainable revenue base. The initiative will leverage traditional institutions as custodians of cultural heritage, promote cultural exchange, and position Nigeria as a leading cultural tourism destination. Ajiboye expressed confidence that the congress will lead to increased cross-cultural understanding and cooperation, ultimately benefiting Nigeria’s economy and global relations.