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British Film Oya - Focuses On Yoruba Culture
(February 18, 2013)
British Film Oya: Rise Of The Orishas Focuses On Yoruba Culture
Director Nosa Igbinedion came up with the idea
Oya: Rise Of The Orishas is a film written by black British director Nosa Igbinedion and is a superhero movie with a modern take on ancient Yoruba beliefs. Find out more about the film right here!
According to Yoruba religion Orishas are a collection of charismatic deities with special supernatural gifts and powers, who are believed to have once walked the Earth and who took on various missions and responsibilities throughout the world, such as guardians or messengers.
Igbinedion has taken these deep-seated beliefs and added a modern twist to bring them into the world of today resulting in the premise of the film Oya: Rise Of The Orishas.
The film focuses on Ade, one of the few people in the modern world who still has a connection with one of the gods Oya. Oya’s job is to keep the doorway between the world of man and the world of the Orishas firmly closed for, if it is opened, the Orishas will wreak havoc upon the Earth as retribution for man’s abandonment of them. To keep the door shut she must find the ‘key’ (a young girl with the potential to open the doorway) and keep her safe.
A depiction of the Undergoddess Oya
Ade must help Oya and find the key and battle against those who would wish to use her to open the doorway and release a horde of forgotten deities upon the world.
Even as someone not familiar with the Yoruba religion Oya: Rise Of The Orishas sounds like a film to be enjoyed and I am looking forward to checking it out. Many films have explored religions and mythologies from around the world but this source remains untapped and, from the sounds of it, it has a lot to offer.
The project is currently undergoing crowd funding to allow Nosa to make a short film of his script to try to get production companies interested in making the full length feature. The campaign will begin on February 28th so keep a look out!
For more information check out the film’s website and their Facebook page. also follow them on twitter