Afenifere Praises Tinubu And Soyinka As Yoruba Pride

The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has lauded President Bola Tinubu and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka for embodying Yoruba values and representing the cultural strength of the people on the global stage.

In a statement signed by its National Organizing Secretary, Otunba Kole Omololu, the group pointed to recent events in Brazil as proof of the prestige of Yoruba heritage and the enduring relevance of its traditions.

During a state banquet in Brazil, Tinubu reportedly gave up his seat in respect for Soyinka, addressing him as “Egbon,” meaning elder brother. Afenifere described the gesture as a reflection of Yoruba customs that honor wisdom, humility, and respect across generations.

Omololu drew parallels with past cultural moments, recalling how the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, was warmly received by Cuban leader Fidel Castro in 1987, an encounter described as a symbolic reunion between the Yoruba homeland and its diaspora in the Americas.

The group noted that Yoruba influence remains deeply rooted in many parts of the world, including Cuba, Brazil, Haiti, Trinidad, Jamaica, and the United States, where religions such as Candomblé, Santería, Vodou, and Orisha traditions still thrive. Words like àṣẹ, adúrà, oríkì, and Ọlọ́run continue to be spoken, centuries after the dispersal of Yoruba people during the transatlantic slave trade.

According to Afenifere, these global footprints set the Yoruba apart as a people whose traditions and values have survived across borders and generations.

The group described Tinubu and Soyinka as living symbols of Yoruba resilience, dignity, and cultural pride, saying their actions and achievements reflect the spirit of Omolúàbí, a core Yoruba ethic rooted in integrity and respect.