Shen: Oshun In Our Reign

This month we celebrate International Women's Day. For my part I will be sharing a poem which I dedicate to the power of the woman in celebration of her divinity. I am joined by the talented photographer and social activist Rebekah Williams who will be sharing images from her collection, “Women In Colour”.
By Shen | Feb 2018


Poem: Oshun in Our Reign

by Shen


You are the vast ocean with its waves crashing against the walls of our mind,
You are the river which flows through our veins,
Entering our dreams adorned with diamond and pearls,
As your sweetness dominates our presence,
Yes indeed your mind reflects the most intimate feminine thinking of the psyche,
Like the lunar energies of the night we feel your potent magnetic emotions,
Amongst the Gods you are known as the great magician casting love spells,
Destroying all illusions and superstitions,
With the solar rays constantly kissing you,
You are the sweetest honey in nature’s love fruit,
You have existed since eternity,
And since then the gods have presented themselves to you,
As a sacred token of adoration they have for you,
In ancient times men knelt down before you,
Venerating your eternal Inner-G emanating from your royal femininity,
Hungry souls wish to unlock your hidden wisdom deep in your Pandora's box,
Wishing to be guided by your dreams and mystic vision,
Let me into your intuitive psychic powers,
Gently stripping your devotees from their pride so they can take heed to your opinions,
A single kiss from your soul has ways of erasing our pain,
You are indeed the Oshun in our Reign,
Even though often times the way you are treated is a contradiction,
Not treated with divinity and royal distinction,
But in the end you have our hearts where you want to,
We are unable to run away from your love so true,
Indeed you are the vast ocean with its waves crashing against the walls of our mind,
You are the river which flows through our veins,
Entering our dreams adorned with diamond and pearls,
As your sweetness dominates our presence.




"Women in Colour"

by Rebekah Williams


I aim to create work that either celebrates black culture or highlights the struggles faced by people of colour.  I often use bold colours, in combination with nature, to shed light on the misrepresentation and document the beauty of marginalised people. These five images are from my recent series, "Women in Colour", a collection of portraits celebrating the diverse beauty and strength of women of colour of all ages. I have photographed women throughout England and as far as the Caribbean, with the hope of extending the series worldwide. I also intend to develop the series into a photobook.

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About Rebekah Williams

Rebekah Williams is a final year BA Photography (hons) student at the Manchester School Of Art with a great interest in the social documentary of people of colour in today's world.