Antonio Faten
Africa. The land of many beginnings, where humanity took many first steps. And with those steps comes the conditioning of the mind, body, and spirit. You all know that Africa (initially named “Alkebulan”) is rich in resources, land, and beliefs passed down throughout the generations.
Hands of The One
But we’d like to focus your attention on one belief that has impacted the lives of many who know of this pantheon’s existence: the Orishas. The Orishas are the central deities of the Yoruba religion in West Africa. But their existence is more complex. To call them “deities” is a tremendous understatement. They act as the personification of nature while assisting humanity in thriving through various means.
Moreover, they also act as emissaries to the central figure of the Yoruba belief, Olodumare. Gifts and food are given as tribute in return for their services to humanity. But what’s truly fascinating about the Orishas is that despite their divinity, they walk among the people to understand them and guide them toward abundance. As such, they also live the human experience, establishing their individual growth. Because of their obscurity, not many adaptations were produced to highlight their story.
Legends Come to Life
However, a few shows and movies have put them in the spotlight in recent years, including the 2016 miniseries Yemoja: Rise of the Orisha. The series focuses on a young doctor named Amina, whose life gets turned around when the son of a politician dies on her watch. Things escalate further when she is possessed by one of the Orishas, the water goddess Yemoja. Now plagued with visions, Amina must find a way to clear her name before it’s too late—quite the tale.
Another highlight of the Orishas comes from the 2022 short film Daughters of the Sea. This entry tells the story of a young woman going through a spiritual awakening when she’s called by Yemaya, the Orisha goddess of the sea, after her grandfather’s death. What makes the Orishas stand out is their close interaction with Humanity, not in the sense that they’re all-powerful entities, but that they gain experiences alongside Humanity and do so willingly, despite being commanded to do so by Olodumare Himself. One could say that we feel closer to them than any other legendary figures, like our parents, guiding their children toward a better future.
If that’s the case, we genuinely have bright days ahead.
Read More From The Able Show Contributors.
Works Cited
https://www.britannica.com/topic/orisha
https://legacy.cs.indiana.edu/~port/teach/205/santeria2.html