work is in progress on this page— (both the painting and text)
Oshun
impressions of francia marquez
“The biggest obstacle we face is the fear people have about their freedom, the fear of deciding for themselves, the fear of joining a transformative force. We are overcoming that fear.”
Francia Márquez is a Colombian lawyer and human-rights and environmental activist, and today the vice president-elect of Colombia. She was born in Yolombó, a village in the Cauca Department. A formidable leader of the Afro-Colombian community, Francia Márquez organized the women of La Toma to stop illegal gold mining on ancestral land. Exerting steady pressure on the Colombian government, Márquez spearheaded a 10-day, 350-mile march of 80 women to the nation’s capital, resulting in the removal of all illegal miners and equipment from her community. She is the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize winner for Colombia.
2018 Goldman Environmental Prize winner for Colombia, Francia Márquez (Photo: Goldman Environmental Prize)
“I am part of a process of struggle and resistance. It began when my ancestors were brought to Colombia as slaves. I am part of the struggle against structural racism, part of the ongoing fight for freedom and justice.”
“We are taught that you cannot put a price on dignity; that to resist is not to endure; to love and value our land and to fight for it, even if it means putting our lives at risk.”
Oshun
Oshun is Queen of the Rivers, in the Lucumí religion.
She is an Orisha, a spirit, deity or goddess reflecting one of the manifestations of the Supreme Being.
Exhibiting all the characteristics of fresh flowing water, Oshun is lively, sparkling, vivacious and refreshing.
It is said that no one can resist her seductive laugh, her graceful dancing or her honey flavoured lips. Seductive and sensual, Oshun inspires sexual love and promotes fertility.
Kneeling Female Figure, Devotee of Oshun. Honolulu Museum of Art. ( CC BY SA 2.5 )
Ochún (Ọ̀ṣun, Oshun)
Goddess of Love, Beauty, Intimacy, Freshwater, Osun River, Wealth, Diplomacy, Purity and Fertility
References
- http://www.aboutsanteria.com/ochuacuten.html * https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Francia_Márquez
- https://www.oneearth.org/environmental-hero-francia-marquez/
- https://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/francia-marquez/
- http://www.aboutsanteria.com/what-is-santeria.html
- https://waronwant.org/news-analysis/francia-marquez-awarded-goldman-environmental-prize
- https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-africa/oshun-african-goddess-love-and-sweet-waters-002908
- https://www.ft.com/content/1d8a6209-615b-4a26-9a68-08e36432be89
- https://earthjustice.org/blog/2019-august/francia-m-rquez-renowned-afro-colombian-activist-what-environmental-racism-means-to-me
- New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology, Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd., New York, 1959
- Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood, Merlin Stone, Beacon Press, Boston, 1984
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
- When God Was A Woman, Merlin Stone, Harvest Edition, 1976
- The Civilization of the Goddess, The World of Old Europe, Marija Gimbutas, HarperCollins Publishers, 1991
- The Language of the Goddess, Marija Gimbutas, HarperRow publishers, San Francisco, 1989