With a shared history of being subsumed by the same colonizer construct, Tonantzin - goddess of the ancient Mexica, and Yemaya, a deity worshiped by the Yoruba of West Africa, each hold an enduring place in the hearts of many of their people. Though the campaign of forced conversion was a long and bloody one, these two figures continue to be worshipped today, a testament to the power and magnetism of the divine feminine.
When asked, recently, to be a part of an exhibit around the virgin mary, I chose to, instead, shine a light on syncretism and the struggle of a people to retain their beliefs and culture in spite of the violence and oppression they faced. I imagine Tonantzin and Yemaya, wandering the world in the guises of two young women, watching over and protecting their people. Sisters in resistance.
