Vinícius Júnior, a Real Madrid and Brazilian player, discovered lineage to the Tikar tribe in Cameroon through a DNA test undertaken by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in partnership with AfricanAncestry.com.
Vinícius received a certificate certifying his heritage during a ceremony at Fonte Nova on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, after the test findings were revealed.
According to Foot Boom, Vinícius received the certificate with his father, Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira, and the president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, before Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.
Rodrigues stated at the occasion, “To celebrate Vini Jr. is to celebrate the success of all Brazilians.” Knowing his origins reinforces our commitment to an inclusive society, recognizing the critical role of Afro-Brazilian culture in our identity and achievement in world football.”
Gina Paige, the creator and president of AfricanAncestry.com, emphasized the necessity of reuniting people of African heritage with their roots.
“Vini Jr. carries within him the desire to honour his heritage. However, like many individuals of African descent, his ancestral story has been erased by racism and the legacy of slavery. Through a DNA test, we discovered that Vini Jr.’s ancestors belong to the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.
“We believe that Vini’s reconnection with his African roots is a powerful ‘act of resistance,’ in line with his advocacy for social justice both on and off the football pitch,” Page stated.
Reacting to the discovery, Vinícius’ father expressed joy, saying, “It’s important for us to know where we come from. Many Brazilians don’t know their ancestry or heritage. I’m happy we are from Cameroon too.”
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