As anticipation builds around the coronation of a new Alaafin of Oyo, a powerful reminder of the deep spiritual and cultural identity of the Oyo Kingdom has resurfaced—“There is no Alaafin without Sango.”
These compelling words, echoed by Dr. Paula Gomes, the Portuguese-born Cultural Ambassador to the Alaafin of Oyo, offer more than poetic reflection—they speak to the essence of an ancient monarchy, rooted in tradition, ancestry, and divine legacy.
In a recent interview with the Atoka Oodua team, Dr. Gomes—who has spent nearly four decades studying Yoruba culture and 17 years working closely with the Oyo palace—called attention to the inseparable bond between the Alaafin, the Oyo people, and Sango, the revered god of thunder and former Alaafin.
“Sango is the identity of the Oyo people and the Alaafin himself,” she declared. “People travel to Mecca because of Prophet Muhammad. They go to the Vatican for Jesus Christ. But here in Oyo, Sango is our spiritual anchor—he is our Mecca.”
Dr. Gomes’ journey to Yorubaland began 36 years ago, fueled by academic curiosity and a passion for uncovering living history. As a European historian, she had read about the Yoruba civilization and its heritage, but believed much of it had faded into the past. However, upon her arrival in Lagos, and later in Oyo, she encountered a culture still alive—though at risk of quiet erosion.
It was during her first visit to the Alaafin’s palace that she understood the urgency of cultural preservation.
“This palace is more than a royal residence. It is a living archive, a keeper of memory,” she said. “It deserves protection, not just for the Oyo people, but for the world.”
She observed with concern how global diasporic communities in Brazil and Cuba proudly claimed Sango as their spiritual figure, while his original homeland seemed to be gradually losing touch with that sacred connection.
Her mission, she explained, was never about religion—it was about identity.
“Religion is personal. But identity is your DNA. It is who you are,” she emphasized. “And for the people of Oyo, that identity is entwined with Sango. To forget him is to forget ourselves.”
As the coronation approaches, her interview sheds much-needed light on the triangle that forms the heart of the Oyo Empire: the palace, the people, and the king. The Alaafin is not merely a political leader—he is the spiritual custodian of the people’s ancestral lineage. His legitimacy is deeply tied to his connection with Sango, whose legacy as a just, powerful ruler-turned-deity continues to guide Oyo’s traditions.
Through her years of cultural advocacy, Paula Gomes has become an unlikely but devoted bridge between the ancient and the modern, between the royal and the everyday. Her work preserves not only relics and rituals, but a sense of pride and rootedness among the people.
“I saw the heritage slipping, but I also saw that it could still be saved,” she said. “The spirit of Oyo is not lost—it only needs to be held tightly.”
As royal drums begin to sound once more, signaling the rebirth of kingship in Oyo, her message rings louder than ever: There is no Alaafin without Sango.
And in remembering that, the people of Oyo may once again find the fullness of their identity.
