Obatala | If God Was Black & From Loiza
Obatala | If God Was Black & From Loiza | Film Stills | 2021
Children of The Water | Loiza, Puerto Rico | 2021
Director | Director of Photography - Yelaine Rodriguez
Performers: CruzMari Roman Rivera & Deyaneira L. Maldonado Ramire Produced by Yelaine Rodriguez | Executive Produced by MARE
Post Production | Edited by Yelaine Rodriguez | Assistant Camera - Luis Vasquez la Roche | Graphics by Patricia Encarnación | Costume Designer Yelaine Rodriguez
"Obatala | If God Was Black & From Loíza" is an interdisciplinary video performance by Afro-Dominican artist Yelaine Rodriguez. The film draws on themes from Afro-Caribbean religions, as well as the histories of slavery and colonialism. It is set in Cueva María de la Cruz, a historically significant cave located in the predominantly Black community of Loíza, Puerto Rico. This site was once inhabited by the Taíno people, the island's indigenous population, and later served as a refuge for self-liberated enslaved Africans. Focusing on Obatala, the orisha regarded as the sky father and the sculptor of humankind, the film portrays him as a guardian of this sacred cave. He wields a cane made from higueras—a traditional utensil used by the Taínos. Additionally, he carries a machete made from sugar, cotton, and cowrie shells, symbolizing the exploitation of Black individuals during the colonial era throughout the Caribbean. As one figure dances barefoot in a flowing white dress to the sounds of drums, facts about slavery briefly appear on screen, only to be quickly washed away by an ocean wave. This imagery illustrates the constant interplay between the present and the past. These costume-made objects serve as future archives that highlight the indigenous and African heritages associated with the cave.