About the film

Oríkì Oshun is an experimental short film that honors the Orisha Oshun, a central figure in Yoruba cosmology and spirituality. Rooted in the Yoruba tradition of oríkì—a performative act of praise that invokes the essence, attributes, and destiny of a person, place, or deity—this film reimagines the possibilities of storytelling through a multisensory, synesthetic cinematic experience. Through a series of interconnected vignettes, Oríkì Oshun weaves together sacred stories (pataki) that reveal the multidimensionality of Oshun. While often celebrated as the Orisha of beauty, love, and wealth, this film ventures beyond these familiar portrayals, offering a deeper and more complex vision of Oshun’s identity. It explores her sacrifices, her struggles, her resilience, and her transformation into a fierce warrior. By blending traditional Yoruba performance aesthetics with experimental film techniques, Oríkì Oshun creates a polyrhythmic and immersive space where sound, image, and movement converge to honor the sacred. This project is not just a celebration of Oshun but a meditation on the power of storytelling to expand our understanding of divine multiplicity, human imperfection, and sacred possibility.