Adaobi O
Brazil’s culture minister has announced that Yoruba will become one of the country’s official languages, and African history will be taught in schools.
Brazil has a sizable population of Yoruba speakers and Orisha worshippers.
When African slaves from the west were brought to Brazil, they brought their Yoruba religion with them. Afro-Brazilians refer to this religion as Candomblé — a religion that seeks harmony with nature. This culture and religion are still very much alive and well, having given birth to the rsà-worshiping and Yoruba-speaking people of Brazil.
It was alleged last week at AYO, following a national meeting of African-Brazilian storytellers, that the Brazilian minister of culture, Dr Sérgio Sá leito, announced that Yoruba is now one of their official languages.
African history will be made a mandatory subject in primary and secondary school curricula. The Brazilian Ministry of Culture, on the other hand, has denied this and will keep us updated on any further developments.
Big names like renowned Professor Wole Soyinka, Dr. Sophie Oluwole, the first female PhD holder in Yoruba Philosophy, and painter and illustrator Adeyinka Olaiya were present at this meeting in Quilombola.
If this move is made, it will benefit Afro-Brazilians by bringing them closer to their roots and helping them better understand the connection between current Brazilian practices and Western Yoruba cultures.
Other Countries where Nigerian Languages are Spoken
Small communities have grown in other countries where some Nigerian languages are spoken for a variety of reasons, including the transatlantic slave trade, cattle grazing, and immigration.
Small communities have developed in other countries where some Nigerian languages are spoken. Except for Nigeria, Brazil is not the only country that has Yoruba as its official language. Outside of Nigeria, large Yoruba-speaking communities can be found in Togo and Benin Republic. Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other African countries have smaller communities. French is the lingua franca in these countries, but if you don’t speak it, Yoruba is your next best option.
There is a growing Hausa community in Ghana, and Igbo is recognized as a minority tribe in Equatorial Guinea, with approximately 53,000 speakers.
