Sunbo is the young man ringing the bell; he also acts as a tour guide on some occasions. That shot was taken one blistering day as we hiked up oke agbara – or, the mountain of power. At the summit of this mountain, people of all faiths often gather to pray. It rained lightly as we made our way down
Sunbo is also one of the men bathing in the sacred river known as Esie Merin and Dende, his cousin also appears in this scene. Every morning in the ancient city of Ile Ife, the ancestral cradle of the Yorubas, men, women and children of all faiths bathe naked in the waters of Esie Merin. It is believed that the water has healing properties and removes negativity.
We haven’t shot the scenes/interviews with the scientists yet. We’ll include them in the next version of the trailer after the principal photography has begun. When I think of my relationship with the elders, awon aburo mi (my younger brothers and sisters), and the team of seasoned filmmakers and advisors working on Across the King’s River, I remember a comment my Mom made many years ago when I asked her what life was like growing up in the Virgin Islands in her generation.
“We never had much,” she told me. “But we always had each other.” I will never, ever forget this comment.
And Great Music
The trailer opens with the track Mon Yala by visionary /pianist Omar Sosa, who has graciously accepted the role of composer for Across The King’s River. Mon Yala is followed by the song Ollu. Both of these tracks can be found on the CD Afreecanos. To learn more about Omar Sosa, or to purchase his latest work, Tales of The Earth, visit http://www.omarsosa.com/.