The organisers of the planned World Orisha Congress (WOOCON) have disclosed plans to build a Congress Arena for Orisha devotees, to be called “WOOCON CITY”.
According to a statement issued to LEADERSHIP by Caleb Nor, media assistant to the executive secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, who is also secretary of WOOCON, made this known at a press briefing, organised in collaboration with Fundacao Cultural Palmares in Brazil, said the WOOCON City is designed to have a sanctuary of sacred groves and shrines that will be protected and revered for generations to reconnect with their roots.
Ajiboye informed that WOOCON is not just limited to faith but also about building the future, emphasised the need for all sons and daughters of Orisha to rise and take their place on the global stage with dignity, structure and a unified purpose.
“Imagine a city where we have world-class hotels and luxury accommodations for visiting pilgrims and delegates; state-of-the-art hospitals and wellness centers for holistic healing; cultural institutions and academic centers for the study of Yoruba, Ifa, and other African cosmology; modern shopping malls; traditional markets; African craft villages; theatres, amphitheaters, and museums that are dedicated to African-Brazilian heritage.
“World Orisha Congress (WOOCON) is beyond just a gathering. It is a revolution of spiritual consciousness, a renaissance of cultural pride, and a movement of identity reclamation.”
“We have come to a point where we shall never allow our spirituality to be subjugated by other religions. Today, we announce the birth of a new chapter where the Orisha spirituality will no longer dwell in the shadows of misunderstanding but shine as a pillar of heritage, healing and hope.”
He further disclosed that efforts are ongoing to ensure a credible system that will preserve the integrity of the Orisha ancestral practice. Structures will be established to monitor and check individuals, both Nigerians and Brazilians residing in Brazil, who are misrepresenting the sacred Orisha traditions for personal gain or with misguided intentions.
“I wish to emphasised this and clarify that no individual or group of persons will be allowed to misuse this sacred heritage. We are instituting cross-governmental frameworks to verify and regulate claims of spiritual authority, particularly those that present themselves as kings, priests, or traditional leaders without proper legitimacy”, he said.
While calling on relevant stakeholders to come together under the WOOCON umbrella to ensure the successful hosting of the congress. Ajiboye further commended the governments of Nigeria and Brazil for their unwavering support for cultural diplomacy, the integration of Afro-descendants, and the preservation of the Yoruba spiritual heritage.
