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about
Born 25 years ago in the forest of Guatemala, Full Rivers sings of a human moment of realisation of oneness with the natural world and with the divine. Along its bubbling journey since its birth, this river-song meets its reflection in the orixá Oxum, Afro-Brazilian divinity of the fresh waters, rivers, waterfalls, beauty, abundance, love, femininity, motherhood and fertility.
The orixás mirror humanity in that they are not perfect beings: they are divine forces of the natural world, yet they also reflect our human complexities and enable spiritual growth. Full Rivers Oxum is a meeting between the twists, turns and struggles of our everyday human lives, our musicalities, the natural world and the divine.
This song is co-written by Baque Luar members Sally McPherson and Lizzie Ogle. It features a vocal solo from Bea Shantifa and the rhythm flowing through this song is based around the sacred toque Nagô, of the Candomblé Nagô of Recife, passed to Baque Luar by babalorixá Afonso Águiar, who loved Oxum deeply. Oxum helps us to understand that beauty inspires beauty and creativity abounds in the wellspring of our own hearts. Ora ie ie Oxum!
lyrics
Full Rivers Oxum
Light from the sky
Blue butterfly, fly
Wind in the trees is
Breathing in me
Talking to me
Making me see that
Full rivers flow
Come water and go
Taking my dreams like
Gurgling streams
Talking to me
Making me see one whole
Oxum, Oxum
Rainha das águas, mãe das crianças
Oxum, Oxum
Mãe da natureza, rio, cachoeira
Oxum
credits
released September 29, 2023
Written by Sally McPherson and Lizzie Ogle
Arranged and performed by Baque Luar
Lead vocal: Sally McPherson
Conga: Lizzie Ogle
Ilu: Tuca Milan
Alfaia: Keryl Brown
Caxixi: Lily May
Udu: Suzanne Mehdi
Vocals: Keryl Brown, Ann-Marie Campbell, Joy Dilá, Abi Hardiman, Lily May, Sally McPherson, Suzanne Mehdi, Purnima Melos, Tuca Milan, Lizzie Ogle, Ayesha Pike, Bea Shantifa
Vocal solo: Bea Shantifa
Featured sounds/places: Buracão waterfall, Chapada Diamantina
Recorded at Rimshot Studios by Oli Barton-Wood
Additional field recordings by Lizzie Ogle
Mixed and mastered by Andre Magalhães
Production team: Lizzie Ogle, Tuca Milan, Lily May
Artwork: Joy Dilá and Sense Turner
