I Am Orisha (2021)

“Orishas in Isese, the Yoruba religion of south-western Nigeria and surrounds, are spirits sent to Ayé, the earth, to guide humanity. For many enslaved Africans from the region, stripped of their possessions and belongings, the only things they were able to carry were their songs, stories, and spiritual belief systems. They are expressed today, passed from one generation to the next, in practices such as Santeria and Umbanda. An original creation, Ara, the goddess of style, is inspired by this history. She is a maintainer of individuality, and self-expression.”

— Blaine D. Teamer