Alaafin to Be Honoured in Bahia, Brazil as UNESCO Recognises OYO: The City of Yoruba Cultural Heritage as a World Heritage Site

By Ademola Adekusibe
June 27, 2026

His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade I, the Alaafin of Oyo, will be honoured in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization prepares to recognise “OYO: The City of Yoruba Cultural Heritage” as a World Heritage Site.

The event will be marked by an international conference titled “OYO: The City of Yoruba Cultural Heritage”, scheduled for Monday, June 29, 2026. The conference will take place at the Noble Hall of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) Rectory in Salvador.

The ceremony is expected to host representatives from the Nigerian and Brazilian governments, UNESCO officials, partner universities, and cultural institutions. The recognition of Oyo as a World Heritage Site reinforces the historical and spiritual significance of the city to Yoruba civilisation and its enduring legacy in the African diaspora.

The Alaafin of Oyo will lead a delegation to Brazil, highlighting the cultural bridge between Yorubaland and South America.