Afenifere Commends Tinubu, Soyinka for Showcasing Yoruba Values Globally

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has lauded President Bola Tinubu and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, for projecting Yoruba cultural values on the international stage.

In a statement signed by its National Organising Secretary, Otunba Kole Omololu, the group said Tinubu’s recent gesture of respect towards Soyinka at a state banquet in Brazil was a profound display of the Yoruba Omoluabi ethos.

During the event, President Tinubu reportedly vacated his seat in deference to Soyinka, addressing him as “egbon” (elder brother), a move Afenifere described as symbolic of Yoruba values of humility, respect, and reverence for wisdom regardless of status.

“Recent events underscore the unique prestige of the Yoruba nation and the timeless power of its culture,” the group said. “This act reflects the essence of Yoruba tradition: reverence for wisdom, humility in leadership, and the Omoluabi ethic that demands respect across generations.”

The group recalled that such cultural diplomacy has historical precedence, citing the 1987 meeting between the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, and Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, which symbolised a spiritual reunion between the Yoruba homeland and its diaspora.

Afenifere further highlighted the resilience of Yoruba culture across the Americas, where it thrives through faiths such as Candomblé, Santería, Vodou, and Orisha traditions, maintaining sacred words like àṣẹ, adúrà, oríkì, and Ọlọ́run centuries after the transatlantic slave trade.

“No other African people possess such a wide-reaching, deeply rooted diaspora, one that has faithfully preserved its àṣà (traditions) and ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́ (gentle character),” Afenifere stated.

The organisation praised Tinubu and Soyinka for exemplifying these enduring values, noting that their actions serve as a reminder of the dignity, resilience, and eternal spirit of the Yoruba people.