By Adeyinka Olaiya /Brazil
If you search for your Yoruba name through the Google site and it reflects in Brazil, never arrive at that very conclusion that the bearer could be a Nigerian.
The bearer could also be one of the several millions of Brazilians of African descents, who have chosen to honor the importance of the Yoruba ancestral links by bearing Yoruba names , many have changed their names from Anderson to Ifabunmi, Ronaldo to Esubiyi, Santos to Osunbunmi, Jackson to Sangobiyi, Paula to Mae Paula de Osun, Maria to Mãe Maria de Oya.
They have adopted everything that concerns the Yoruba culture , tradition and religion.
In fact , It’s just as if the world is turning around , the African ancestors are fighting their cause.
While some Nigerian Yorubas are exalting and bearing foreign and English names , the Brazilians of African descents are rejecting and changing their names from foreign and colonial names back to the indigenous Yoruba names.
This awareness is due to the progress and the practices of the “ Brazilian Candomble religion “ a version of the Yoruba traditional religion in Brazil.
Brazil is one of the countries in the Americas where the religion of the Yoruba people still booms and many are still converting from Catholicism to the Orisha religion .
Today , Brazilians of all races and colors are converting from their initial religious beliefs to the Orisha religion , many claim to have found solace in the practice of the Yoruba traditional religion.
However, it is quite interesting that the Initiates in this Yoruba religion are also having the Yoruba ancestral names added to their original names. In some instances , their original names are totally changed to African names.
According to Iyanifa, Madam Ya Paula de Osun “ The inclusion of Yoruba traditional names after the initiation in to the Orisha religion is to confirm our commitment in to the practice of the Orisha religion, it is necessary to elevate the Yoruba tradition and their names if the religion itself is from the Yoruba race “ she said.
Apart from the Yoruba Ancestral names that are mostly given to the ones who practice the Candomblé religion , a version of the Yoruba traditional religion, Brazilians are also exhibiting love for African names , many are now giving African names like Amarachi , Amaka, Demilade, Dandara, Omolara, Nneka, Ugo, Aisha , Lolade, Alaba , Deola, Obinna, Kanu, Okocha, Obama, Abayomi and several other African names to their newly born babies.
“It is interesting to note that while Nigerians are giving foreign names like Washington, Jackson , Clarion , Arita Franklin, Hugo boss , Calvin , Anderson to their children , Brazilians are giving African names like Osunkemi Adunni, Omolabake , Sangofunmi. It’s like our problem in Nigeria is mental slavery “ Chidiebere lamented.
Adeyinka Olaiya /Artist, writer , documentarist .