THE SUN ON THE RIVER
(2022)
From spiritual trance display, to mystical dance activities, thundering sounds of drums, beautiful hairstyles, white clothing, men, women, children, and more women, rains of incantations and prayers, the Oshun goddess is honored at the beautiful town of Osogbo, in western Nigeria. The whole world is here. To celebrate the water goddess of fertility, This short film reveals details about the deities of Yorubaland and the sacredness of the Oshun goddess. The film also features a conversation with Olokun Gbadegesin; an Oshun head priest, In his words; ‘The ancestors will never forget their own, no matter where they go they will keep tormenting them till they go back home to honor their deity’
OSHUN POEM
Brass and parrot feathers
on a velvet skin.
White cowrie shells
on black buttocks.
Her eyes sparkle in the forest,
like the sun on the river.
She is the wisdom of the forest
she is the wisdom of the river.
Where the doctor failed
she cures with cool water.
She cures the child
and does not charge the father.
She feeds the barren woman with honey
and her dry body swells up
like a juicy palm fruit.
Oh, how sweet
is the touch of child’s hand!
From a Yoruba Poetry
Cambridge University Press, (1970)
