Afrofuturism and Ancestral Spirituality Collide in Afro-Diasporic Coming-Of-Age Film ‘Ori Inu’.
Taking its title from the Yoruba words meaning ‘head’ and ‘stomach’ to loosely translate to ‘inner head’,Ori Inu: In Search of Self is a coming-of-age story about
Natalia Diaz (Helen Beyene), a young immigrant woman who must choose between conforming her identity and spirituality to the cultural norms of America or revisiting her roots in the Afro-Brazilian religion called
Candomblé, a
syncretic religion birthed during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, deeply rooted in Yoruba and Fon spirituality.
Amongst Yorubas, the ‘ori’ (head) is considered the most important part of the body as it relates to consciousness, intentions, one’s soul, and other emotional and cerebral activities. This also accounts for the prominence in facial sculptures produced by Yoruba artists through the ages.
(Tonya Pinkins as Moma Lola and Lyric Dorcely as young Natalia Diaz)
(Folasade Adeoso as Yemanja)
The film, directed by Guyanese-Nigerian-American siblings
Chelsea Odufu and
Emann Odufu, includes the Tony Award winning actress Tonya Pinkins as well as other notable actor such as Trae Harris who starred in Sundance’s Official Selection Newlyweeds. Ori Inu: In Search of Self
is very much inspired by music and features performances not only by OSHUN NYC but by the Grammy-nominated Afro Soul Group Les Nubians.
(Les Nubians performing in the film)
In essence, the film speaks to the larger struggles of displacement, conformity and adaptation many within the diaspora experience when navigating through new spaces in which parts of their identities are met with strong intolerance and prejudice.
“Natalia’s journey, in search of self through spiritual and deep connections to her African ancestry, is one that can be related to the journey of many African diasporic people,” writes Chelsea. “Many are choosing to connect with their spirituality through the practices of their ancestors and find it an empowering experience which creates a sense of connection with the past, which for many African diasporic people is very blurred due to the after effects of slavery.”
Ori in Yoruba literally means head but is so much more than that. It also refers, in the spiritual sense to one’s intuition, destiny (ayanmo), essence, and their consciousness that’s part of them, and is also an Orisha unto it’s own, meaning that the person is a God or Goddess them self. It is one of the most powerful parts of the Yoruba faith.
In the Western world you would describe it as your soul + destiny + essence and more = Ori. It’s as deep as it gets. Often you might even have a chant/mantra that is connected with your Ori that you sing or say aloud which is like a prayer to yourself and your own soul. Sharing this experience with others as an Artist gives a new meaning to my Art unlike ever before. It’s changed the way I see myself as an Artist. It’s taking my Afromysterics style of to a higher level. Afromysterics means, the mystery of the African thought pattern.”
Aside from painting, other body art within culture range from tattoos to facial scarification, both of which are not as common as they once were.
