Tinubu, Lula endorse Soyinka’s Heritage Voyage of Return
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have jointly endorsed the Heritage Voyage of Return (HVR), a Pan-African initiative designed to reconnect Afro-descendants with their ancestral homeland. The endorsement came during President Tinubu’s recent state visit to Brazil, where Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, the patron of the initiative, […]
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have jointly endorsed the Heritage Voyage of Return (HVR), a Pan-African initiative designed to reconnect Afro-descendants with their ancestral homeland.
The endorsement came during President Tinubu’s recent state visit to Brazil, where Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, the patron of the initiative, was also honoured in a symbolic exchange with President Lula in Brasília.
Backed by The African Pride Organisation, HVR seeks to provide a symbolic “homecoming” for descendants of enslaved Africans in Brazil, the Caribbean and the Americas through a sea voyage to Africa. The initiative is expected to foster cultural diplomacy, tourism and economic cooperation between Africa and South America.
During a landmark meeting in Brasília, President Lula touched foreheads with Soyinka in a gesture of solidarity before declaring Brazil’s full support for the programme. “This is a historic opportunity to heal generational wounds and forge new ties,” he said.
At a presentation of HVR to Afro-Brazilian leaders and lawmakers in Brazil’s Legislative Chamber, Nigeria’s Central Bank governor, Olayemi Cardoso, described the initiative as “an unprecedented commitment between the leadership of President Lula and President Tinubu,” pointing to opportunities in cultural diplomacy, heritage tourism and the creative economy.
The following day, at a town hall with Nigerians and Afro-descendants in Brazil, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s support, calling the initiative “a crucial step in reconnecting Africa’s scattered sons and daughters.”
The movement is being championed by Ajoyemi and Carolina Osunleye, founders of The African Pride. With the endorsements of Tinubu and Lula, and Soyinka’s patronage, organisers said the project was positioned to become a global heritage platform.
“The Heritage Voyage of Return is not just a journey for individuals, it is a journey of dignity for our collective history,” Osunleye said.