Some Brazilians on Thursday in Lagos expressed their desire to speak Yoruba language in order to relate well with their Salvador compatriots, who speak the language in Brazil.
Some Brazilians on Thursday in Lagos expressed their desire to speak Yoruba language in order to relate well with their Salvador compatriots, who speak the language in Brazil.
The Brazilians were delegates to the inauguration of the Afrobrazilian Studies Centre in the Lagos State University to encourage cross cultural development between both countries.
The delegates, led by Flivno Banzaini, the Brazilian Ambassodor to Nigeria told the News Agency of Nigeria that Yoruba language was venerated in Brazil.
According to them, the city of Salvador is mostly occupied by Yoruba speaking Brazilians, who have their roots in the South western Nigeria.
Carla Nachado, a delegate, said that Yoruba was spoken in the city of Salvador as means of interaction and the people were well cultured and respected by Brazilians.
Nachado said: “My desire to speak the language heightened when I landed in Lagos few days ago and began to see people speak it with relish.
“I wish I can speak it like them so that when I go back to Brazil I can flaunt my capacity at speaking it to my Salvador friends in school.
“I have no doubt that with the inception of the Afrobrazilian Centre there will be avenue for people like us to be proficient in the Yoruba language.
“The language blends well with the African tradition that is in full practice in Brazil, which tells a lot about the origin of a people.
“With that language, people will believe that the people of Salvador in Brazil actually come from Nigeria.”
According to her, students from the Rio de Janerio University will be visiting the Afrobrazilian centre for courses that will foster unity among the two countries.
Dr Does Santos of the Federal University Rio de Janeiro, Brazil said that the desire to establish the study centre was for Lagosian of Brazilian decent to relate with their Brazilian counterparts.
He said that the centre would teach students Portuguese language in Nigeria, adding that it was a replica of the one in Brazil that teaches Yoruba.
Santos said: “Many of our nationals who are not from the Yoruba speaking Salvador are longing to speak it as a second language in order to relate with their Salvador compatriots.
“The tempo is high back home therefore having an affinity with core natives of Yoruba community in Nigeria through the centre, will aid the preparation of the language.”
The ambassador, who collaborated the desire of his nationals to speak Yoruba, said that the Brazilian returnees who settled on the Lagos Island had been craving for a relationship with their counterparts in Nigeria.