“Yéyé o, y éeeee yè oooo”
A Live Art piece that tackles Gender Inequality. It unpacks the archetypes of the Divine Feminine while addressing the audience with irony, satire, and exaggeration – using storytelling and an accompanying Exhibition, to critique patriarchal mindset.
“Women are deities that are worthy of honor and appreciation”
The performance embodies Osun (or shoon); the riverine goddess of Sensuality, Beauty, flowing Joy, Love, Purity, Abundance, and Fertility – from the southwestern Yorùba tribe of Nigeria.
Osun is a goddess that is rooted in ‘fresh’ water such as rivers and streams, and draws all her essence from fresh water.
Osun encompasses the entirety of Womanhood, the Feminine body, #Vulva Power, Nature, and more.
In this piece, she is used as a metaphor to explore the archetypes of the divine feminine, and the appeal of the goddess; as a symbol of female empowerment.
The performing character takes on the role of Osun priestess using libation and chants rather than Osun herself. This is partly because I personally find it spiritually disrespectful to play her, and secondly because nobody ever remembers the priestesses. The sanctified women that dedicate their existence to the calling of Osun. The priestesses who pass through rigorous initiation processes to become the channel for all to be able to experience and receive the good tidings from Osun.
Inequality has been an issue in existence since the beginning of the world including in the spiritual realm, where goddesses (women) are perceived as lesser creations by the gods (male figures). Which isn’t what Ólodumare (the creator) intends.
Osun reflects one of the manifestations of God in the Ifá and Yorùba traditional religions. She is believed to be the fountain of fertility and the first bearer of multiple births.
The Osun priestesses play a major role in the process of baby-making concoctions and fresh water-based mixtures to aid pregnancy and childbirth, and also to keep a child fortified in mind body & soul throughout growing up.
Osun is usually depicted in images- topless and bare on the upper body with her breasts hanging out, because for Osun, the breasts are the alluring sensuality that feeds life; culminating both intimacy & pleasure, and aiding the science of reproduction.
For Osun, the breasts are also the symbol of the attractive essence of the Feminine body.
I agree, they’re flexible, functional, and desirable.
A prominent feature of femaleness.
Osun moves with poise, such that she is highly seductive and charms all the male gods. She often carries a mirror with her so that she can admire her beauty.
She is fond of complex and defunct hair styles.
The supporting exhibition is an opportunity for discussion and reflection around the themes of Patriarchy and Female oppression/emancipation
In the book ‘’The Holy Odu’’ by Awo Fategbe Fatunmbi Fasola – there is a chant in Odù Ifá; (patterns of binary code) up facing and closed nodes, that represent the energies contained in divination (a kind of coded reference to ritual magic). The chant clearly states that when Olodumare (God) created his subjects, he created all male and just one female which is Osun. And whenever Olodumare gives them tasks, they are never able to complete it, they just pack it aside and move on to the next. After several attempts as such, they decided to report back to Olodumare to let him know of their struggles and find out if all of the tasks are just tests and they are not exactly supposed to be able to accomplish them. Olodumare asked ‘’what is Osun’s opinion about all these?’’ and they responded looking confused erm…Osun? We don’t even ever involve her, I mean she’s a woman! Olodumare said ‘’now I know the root of the problems you’ve been facing’’. ‘’You will now go and find Osun and invite her in and be kind to her, she doesn’t even need to touch anything, just her presence will cushion the blow of whatever life may throw at you’’.
It is proven, that it is unarguably beneficial if a woman’s rights are protected.
I decided to perform this piece as an Osun priestess rather than Osun herself because, nobody ever remembers the priestesses. The sanctified women that dedicate their existence to the calling of Osun. The priestesses who pass through rigorous initiation process to create the channel for us all to be able to experience and receive the good tidings from Osun.
The performance part of the event, incorporates an Osun priestess performing libations to her Orisha. Supported by joyous exciting dancing with a soundtrack consisting of spoken words by the artist and women who have been involved in associated workshops as well as traditional and comtemporary folklore and percussion music.
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