Oshun Festival

Film: Flow: For Love of Water, Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Oshun community celebration: Sunday at 12:30 pm

The Oshun festival is a festive, community cultural gathering.  It is also a time to express serious reverence for Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of love and sweet or fresh waters (as opposed to salt water).  The “Emese” are messengers of the African diaspora.  Fresh water is in short supply today.  The Emese community will screen the film Flow: For Love of Water this evening to show some of the causes and ramifications of the scarcity of fresh water.  This eye-opening film, directed by Irena Salina, investigates the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century:  the world water crisis.  After the film, special guest community leaders will open the space for a roundtable conversation and join everyone to talk about the role of the orisha community and artists in protecting the environment.  Food will be available to snack on.

In this important film, Director Irena Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.  Interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, while begging the question: “Can anyone really own water?”  Beyond identifying the problem, this film also gives us a look at the people and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround.

It is that time of year to celebrate the many manifestations of Oshun.  The Emese are continuing their festival this afternoon to honor the mother of fresh and sweet waters:  “Omi Tutu,” mother of Oshun.  Daughters of the fresh waters and the sacred groves invite everyone to join them in community to celebrate this 3rd Annual Oshun Festival honoring: “Omi Tutu.”  Everyone will experience healing prayers, sacred stories, songs, dance, food, vendors, and more.  Special activities for the children will be provided.  This is definitely a family affair!  This year’s festival will look at Iya Lode as manifested as fresh cool water.  This year there will be singing for Eggun and singing and dancing for Oshun.

The community is invited to lift their voices with spoken word and prayers to Iya Lode, and host a community market place.