"I knew nothing about hoodoo. All I had ever heard of was voodoo and that it was a scary, bad, evil thing. Then, when I was doing my research for hoodoo, I learned it was connected to Ifá, which is the traditional Yoruba spirituality system."
"Ifá was something I was told to stay away from. But her father grew herbs in his garden. I now realize that he uses traditional medicines. I always thought he was a bit woo-woo-like, 'Just take a Tylenol, Dad!' That knowledge is still in the culture."
"To play Annie, Mosaku consulted with a hoodoo priestess, who showed her how to bless the mojo bag worn by Smoke (Michael B. Jordan) in the film. As a child, Mosaku felt orphaned from her Nigerian roots; her favorite film was 'Annie,' which she'd watch over and over."
Wunmi Mosaku, a Best Supporting Actress nominee for the film 'Sinners,' plays Annie, a hoodoo healer who uses mysticism to protect against vampires. Despite the prestige of an Oscar nomination, Mosaku faces physical and emotional challenges, including pregnancy with her second child and exhaustion from the campaign trail. For her role, she conducted extensive research into hoodoo, discovering its connection to Ifá, the traditional Yoruba spirituality system. Raised Christian by Nigerian parents who immigrated to Manchester, Mosaku was initially unfamiliar with hoodoo and had been discouraged from exploring Yoruba traditions. She consulted with a hoodoo priestess to authentically understand the spiritual practices depicted in the film, including blessing ceremonial objects. Her journey reflects a personal reconnection with her cultural heritage through her acting work.
#oscar-nomination #hoodoo-spirituality #yoruba-traditions #cultural-heritage #method-acting-research
Read at The New Yorker
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