Cultural Links Between the Yoruba People of Nigeria and Brazil
The transatlantic slave trade, which took place between the 16th and 19th centuries, saw the mass movement of Africans to the Americas, with 50% of slaves ended up in Brazil. With this in mind, it is then only natural to assume that over the centuries people would have preserved and adopted different traditions as they resided in a melting-pot, comprised of, but not limited to, Africans from across the continent, Tupi people (‘native’ Brazilians) and Portuguese.
“Melville J. Herskovits argued that African Americans in virtually every American nation ‘retained’ some greater or lesser ‘memory’ of the African past” (Matory 1999, 72). So, “with almost 86 million residents with African origins” (insidermondey.com) in Brazil, we should expect to see some cultural links and similarities between Afro-Brazilian and Yoruba cultures.
The reasons I have chosen to limit my discussion to cultural links with Yorubas rather than Nigeria in general is because:
I. The Bight of Benin was the 2nd major source of slaves to Bahia (NE state of Brazil)
II. Elements of Yoruba culture is more evident in Brazil when compared with Igbo and Hausa culture. This is not so say that elements of Ibo and Hausa culture no longer exist in Brazil.
Religion
A babalawo performing divination with an opele. Photo: Chief Ogunleye
The religious link between Brazil and the Yoruba people is most evident though the Candomblé religion, originating from Bahia in the 19th century. Candomblé is referred to as a syncretic religion because it combines elements of Yoruba, Fon and Bantu traditional religions.
Candomblecistas
Despite the fact that only half a million Brazilians identified as followers of African traditional religion (ATR) in the 2010 census, Candomblé plays a role in Catholic traditions in the country. For example, the syncretism between Catholicism and ATRs has been manifested in the form of religious festivals such as, Festa do Bonfim in Salvador. During this celebration Catholics and ‘Candomblecistas’ come together to celebrate Lord Bonfim (representation of crucified Jesus for the Catholics and Obatala for Candomblecistas).
Above is a video my father sent to me a while ago, showing Brazilians taking part in a prayer speaking Yoruba
Cuisine
I was surprised to find out that there were a lot of similarities between Nigerian and Brazilian cuisine, especially in terms of the staple ingredients, such as cassava, palm oil, yams, just to name a few. The similarities, however do not stop there. In fact, the slave trade and migration after abolition of slavery allowed for the exchange of dishes between the two nations.
For example, acarajé (àkàrà in Yoruba) is a bean-cake dish that was brought to Brazil by West Africans during the slave trade. The word acarajé is a mixture of “àkàrà" and "je" (to eat) which, literally means to eat àkàrà.
Ana Cassia Pereira, right and Barbara Pereira Capistran Ana Cassia Pereira make her acaraje, a snack of fried bean patties stuffed with shrimp and spices in Salvador, Brazil. (Vincent Bevins / Los Angeles Times)
Furthermore, “[the] dialogue among West Africans and African-American returnees to colonial Lagos [Nigeria]” (Matory 1999, 74), after the abolition of slavery in 1888, introduced parts of Brazilian culture to the Yoruba people. Such as, Frejon, named after Feijão, which means bean in Portuguese. It is a coconut bean soup that is said to be brought to Nigeria by returnees and is typically eaten during Holy Week.
Lagos & Migration
The Muslim uprising that took place in Bahia in 1835, known as the Male revolt was by started by Hausa, Nupe, Kanuri and Yoruba slaves. The revolt created a sense of fear and insecurity among the ruling class and as a result the Legislative Assembly of the province of Bahia began a campaign of repatriating freed slaves back to Africa. This was the first instance of ‘Afro-Brazilians’ coming back to Nigeria.
After the abolition of slavery and up until 1920s, migration to Nigeria, mainly Lagos*, occurred principally among Yoruba descended Afro-Brazilians. This is why some Nigerians have Portuguese-Brazilian last names.
Moreover, in certain areas of Lagos, particularly what is known as the ‘Brazilian Quarters’ or Popo Aguda (where the returnees settled), there is evidence of Brazilian architecture, such as Campos Square on Lagos Island.
Other aspects of Brazilian culture that were exported to Nigeria by the repatriated slaves is the Lagos Carnival.
Through my research I even discovered that Nigeria has its own Samba School. "Èkó Samba Community is a non-profit group based in Satellite Town, Lagos, which aims to engage and empower children and young people through creative arts, namely Brazilian Samba drumming” (Guardian 2016). Interestingly, Samba’s rhythm is said to derive from Candomblé prayer music.
Final Thoughts
It is clear that the slave trade was key in creating a mixture of Brazilian and Yoruba culture in both Brazil and Nigeria. As Olusegun Akinruli, founder of the Yoruba institute of Art and Culture in Brazil, stated, “Brazil and Nigeria are twin sisters who share the same interests, culture and challenges” (Ehonwa 2013). It is important to note that the similarities between both countries go beyond culture and can be seen through language, economy and to some extent a shared history.