Who is the king of Oyó? Understand the connection between the Nigerian monarch and Xangô

The visit of the Alaafin of Oyó, Ọba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, to Salvador mobilized religious leaders, researchers and traditional communities of African origin. For many Brazilians, the name Oyó immediately evokes memories of Xangô - one of the best-known orixás in Candomblé and Umbanda. What not everyone knows is that, in Yoruba tradition, Xangô is also identified as an ancient king of the kingdom of Oyó, located in present-day Nigeria.

According to the cultural ambassador of the Palácio de Oyó, Paula Gomes, the Alaafin is the most important traditional authority of the Yoruba civilization and represents a lineage that goes back to Xangô himself.

"In the Yoruba tradition, the Alaafin occupies the throne belonging to the direct lineage of the Orixá Xangô, being considered heir to one of the most important political and spiritual traditions of the Yoruba people", he explains to CNN Brasil.

Although Nigeria is currently a republic, the Alaafin maintains a role of cultural, historical and spiritual leadership, being responsible for preserving traditions that have spanned centuries.

What is the relationship between the King of Oyó and the orixá Xangô?
According to Yoruba tradition, Xangô was not born as an orixá. He was one of the Alaafins of Oyó, remembered as a powerful king, strategist and associated with justice. After his death, he underwent a process of divinization and became one of the most revered orixás in the Yoruba religion.

For this reason, when we talk about the King of Oyó, we also talk about the lineage of the kingdom where Xangô ruled. In the religious traditions preserved in Brazil, Xangô began to be worshiped as the orixá of thunder, fire, justice and balance, without its historical dimension being forgotten.

History and religion go together
Experts explain that the figure of Xangô brings together two dimensions that coexist: the historical and the religious.

From a historical point of view, he is remembered as a former sovereign of Oyó. In Yoruba cosmology and Afro-Brazilian religions, he is a deity linked to power, justice and balance, worshiped for centuries.

This union between history and spirituality is common in African traditions, in which ancestors of great importance can be elevated to the status of orixás.

The visit to Bahia
This was the current Alaafin's first visit to Brazil. His predecessor, Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, was in Salvador in 2014.

Alaafin's visit to the capital of Bahia was organized by the priest Diego de Ogum, from Rio de Janeiro, by the cultural ambassador of the Palácio de Oyó, Paula Gomes, and by the priestess of Yemanja Renata Barcellos. The group organized meetings with religious leaders, cultural institutions and spaces considered symbols of the preservation of the Yoruba tradition in Brazil.

The delegation was made up of teachers, members of the Royal Council of Oyó (Oyo Mesi), as well as three other traditional kings: the monarchs of Igboho, Iganna and Oro.

Among the commitments on the agenda, Alaafin visited Mafro (Afro-Brazilian Museum), Memorial das Baianas, Muncab (National Museum of Afro-Brazilian Culture), Uneb (University of the State of Bahia), several traditional terreiros and Pedra de Xangô.

In addition to visits to religious and cultural spaces, the agenda included academic commitments. At UFBA (Federal University of Bahia), the queen represented Alaafin during the launch of a book dedicated to the history of Oyó.

Priest Diego de Ogum, alongside ambassador Paula Gomes and priestess of Iemanjá Renata Barcellos - Personal archive | Priest Diego de Ogum
According to Paula Gomes, one of the moments that most caught the attention of the royal couple was precisely the visit to the monument dedicated to Xangô in Salvador.

"They were impressed to see such a significant public space dedicated to Xangô and recognized the Brazilian people's commitment to preserving this cultural heritage", he highlights.

The intense schedule, with days that exceeded 12 consecutive hours of commitments, meant that some visits had to be cancelled.

Still, according to the cultural ambassador, Alaafin regretted not being able to fulfill all the scheduled programming and made a point of leaving a message for Brazilian religious communities.

Throughout the visit, he expressed pride in the way Yorùbá traditions are preserved in Brazil, encouraged children's participation in worship, defended the teaching of the Yorùbá language to new generations and reinforced that Brazilians will always be welcome in the city of Oyó, in Nigeria.

Why does the visit excite religious people?
The choice of Salvador as one of the main destinations of the visit was not by chance. The capital of Bahia is considered one of the largest centers for the preservation of Yoruba culture outside of Africa, keeping alive a religious, linguistic and cultural heritage that dates back to the ancient Empire of Oyó.

For priests and practitioners of African-based religions, the presence of the Alaafin represents much more than the visit of a traditional authority. It symbolizes the reunion between the land of origin of the Yoruba people and one of the largest communities of the African diaspora in the world. In Bahia, customs, songs, liturgical languages and rituals have spanned centuries and continue to be preserved by generations of terreiros.

In this context, the passing of the monarch is perceived as a recognition of the resistance of these communities and the continuity of the Yoruba tradition in Brazil.

According to Paula, the meaning of the visit goes beyond the religious aspect and brings together different historical and cultural dimensions. In addition to reconnecting the diaspora to its origins, it recognizes the preservation work carried out by traditional Brazilian communities, strengthens cooperation initiatives between Brazil and Nigeria, reaffirms the spiritual importance of the throne of Oyó for the devotees of Orisá and expands institutional ties between the two countries.

"By visiting temples and religious communities, Alaafin recognizes the efforts of generations of Brazilians who have preserved Yorùbá culture, rituals, values and memory, even in the face of historical challenges faced over the centuries", he states.

The Alaafin of Oyó, wearing red robes, alongside other traditional kings during a visit to Ilê Agboulá, a temple dedicated to the cult of Bàbá Egúngún, one of the most important ancestral traditions of the Yoruba people.- Personal archive | Diego de Ogum
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Source: CNN