Otunba Ajiboye Applauds Brazil’s Adoption Of Yoruba Emblem As Judicial Symbol

The Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, has commended the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) for adopting Osé ?àngó—the revered double-headed axe of ?àngó, the Yoruba deity of thunder, justice, and balance—as an official symbol of justice in courtrooms across Brazil.

According to Caleb Nor, Media Assistant to the Executive Secretary/CEO of NICO, the decision represents a significant cultural milestone and reaffirms the growing global recognition of Yoruba heritage. He said the move is a “symbolic return of ancestral justice in Brazil,” demonstrating how deeply Yoruba culture has permeated Brazilian institutions and the broader socio-political environment.

Otunba Ajiboye, reacting to the development, expressed pride in the international embrace of a core Nigerian cultural identity.

“This culture of Nigeria has become a symbol of social justice in Brazil,” Ajiboye noted. “Osé ?àngó is the symbol of ?àngó, the third Alaafin of Oyo (1078 AD), who was the first historical figure to harness and release energy at will—hence his reverence as the god of thunder. It is gratifying to see this emblem now symbolizing authority in a faraway land.”

The inclusion of Osé ?àngó alongside the scales of justice in Brazilian courtrooms, he added, is a historic moment not just for Brazil, but for Yoruba people worldwide, particularly those in South-West Nigeria.

The decision has garnered positive reactions from cultural and spiritual circles in Brazil. Carolina (Omidele) Morais, a member of the OAB-RJ Slavery Truth Commission and consultant for the World Orisha Congress (WOOCON) in Brazil, described the initiative as a progressive step toward safeguarding Afro-Brazilian cultural and spiritual heritage.

“The adoption of Osé ?àngó is in line with WOOCON’s efforts to promote Yoruba spirituality globally,” Morais said, noting that the OAB-RJ Slavery Truth Commission has long defended the rights of Orisha devotees in Brazil. “We fully support NICO’s World Orisha Congress initiative, which aligns with our mission and vision.”

The intertwining of Afro-Brazilian spirituality and modern law, many believe, is restoring a sense of cultural and spiritual equilibrium in Brazil’s judicial system. The courtroom presence of Osé ?àngó, a symbol of cosmic justice, reinforces the belief that law is not only codified in statutes but also inscribed in the conscience and history of a people.