On June 29, 2026, His Imperial Majesty Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, the Alaafin of Oyo, joined Nigerian and Brazilian government delegations in Salvador da Bahia for a landmark international conference championing the inscription of “Oyo: The City of Yoruba Cultural Heritage” as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
Held at the Noble Hall of the UFBA Rectory (Universidade Federal da Bahia), the gathering celebrated the historical, cultural, and spiritual legacy of Oyo—one of the most influential centers of Yoruba civilization. The event featured the launch of a significant trilingual book (Portuguese, English, and Yoruba) that inventories Oyo’s rich intangible heritage, providing scholarly groundwork for the UNESCO bid. 
Representatives from Nigerian and Brazilian authorities, UNESCO, partner universities, and cultural institutions convened to highlight Oyo’s enduring contributions to Yoruba identity, governance, and transatlantic connections—echoed powerfully in Bahia’s own Afro-Brazilian heritage. The Alaafin’s presence, accompanied by his entourage, underscored Nigeria’s proactive diplomacy in safeguarding and globalizing its living cultural treasures. 
This initiative builds on recent successes, such as the UNESCO recognition of the Sango Festival of Oyo, and reflects a strategic effort to preserve the architectural, ritual, and communal legacies of the historic Oyo Empire. Success would not only honor Oyo’s pivotal role in Yoruba history but also strengthen cultural bridges between Africa and the diaspora, fostering tourism, research, and pride in shared heritage. As deliberations unfold, the conference marks a vibrant step toward etching Oyo’s story into the world’s collective memory.
