The Oyo traditional priestess says she received no payment from Paola Almeida Ferreira and acted on what she described as Yemoja’s instruction
Olori Oniyemoja of Oyo has defended the conferment of the Yeye Atayese Oniyemoja title on Brazilian national Paola Almeida Ferreira, saying on Saturday, August 29, 2026, that she received no payment from Ferreira and acted on what she described as an instruction from Yemoja.
Also read: Alaafin cancels Brazilian’s Oyo chieftaincy title
The response follows the decision by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, to declare the traditional title invalid, after Ferreira was honoured by Yemoja worshippers in Oyo on August 23.
In a video circulating online, the Olori Oniyemoja rejected suggestions that money influenced the conferment.
“I didn’t collect a dime from the white lady. Yemoja instructed me to confer the Yeye Atayese title on her,” she said.
Her comments have added a spiritual dimension to an increasingly public disagreement over who has the authority to confer traditional titles within Oyo and the place of religious institutions in the process.
The controversy began after Ferreira announced that she had received the title, describing it as a position associated with responsibility, recognition and a commitment to the sacred.
Ferreira said the Atayese Oniyemoja title represented a connection to Yemoja and carried a responsibility to guide, care for and contribute to the wellbeing of people who seek spiritual transformation.
She also described Yemoja as a source of life, motherhood, acceptance, depth and strength, ending her message with a prayer for devotees.
The announcement, however, drew a sharp response from the Alaafin’s palace.
In a statement dated August 26 and signed by Oba Owoade, the monarch said traditional titles could not be conferred in Oyo without the awareness and approval of the Alaafin.
The Alaafin described himself as the prescribed authority and custodian of Oyo’s historical and cultural heritage, and subsequently declared the title bestowed on Ferreira “officially invalid”. (Sahara Reporters)
The palace position places the dispute within a broader question of traditional authority, rather than simply the recognition of a foreign devotee.
The Olori Oniyemoja’s response, meanwhile, suggests that the conferment was understood from the perspective of the Yemoja religious tradition as a spiritual act rather than a conventional chieftaincy appointment.
That distinction could prove important as the controversy develops, particularly because the title was conferred in connection with the worship and traditions surrounding Yemoja.
Ferreira’s involvement has also attracted attention because of her Brazilian nationality and her public embrace of Yoruba spiritual traditions.
Her own account presented the title as a serious spiritual responsibility rather than merely an honorary distinction.
The development has consequently generated interest beyond Oyo, touching on questions of cultural exchange, traditional institutions and the growing international interest in Yoruba spirituality.
For the Alaafin’s palace, however, the issue remains firmly tied to the established authority of the Oyo traditional institution.
For the Olori Oniyemoja, the justification is equally clear: she maintains that the title was conferred because of a spiritual instruction and not because of any financial inducement.
Also read: Oyo princes seek legal order to curb Alaafin’s public engagements
The competing positions leave the status of Ferreira’s title at the centre of an unusual and closely watched dispute, one that brings together royal authority, religious practice and the enduring global appeal of Yoruba culture.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
