A Yoruba traditional worship custodian, Abiola Rosanwo, has publicly criticised Nollywood actress and filmmaker Yetunde Barnabas over the representation of Yoruba deities in her upcoming movie, Olokun Mermaid, accusing the production of distorting Isese beliefs.
Rosanwo, who identified herself as the Yeye Owonrin Ojose Isara Remo and a guardian of Yoruba indigenous tradition, raised the concerns in a series of Facebook posts on Saturday, where she argued that portraying Yemoja or Olokun as mermaids contradicts traditional teachings.
According to Barnabas, the project was originally produced under the title Yemoja before being renamed Olokun Mermaid.
Addressing criticism earlier on Instagram, the actress explained that she changed the title after discovering that some YouTube channels had already used her image to promote a separate production bearing the name Yemoja.
Reacting to the explanation, Rosanwo questioned the decision, writing: “If the name of your movie was Ogun, can you change the name to Sango after production? Yemoja is not Olokun. Olokun is not a mermaid. Yemoja also is not a mermaid or a fish.”
She maintained that the change suggested a misunderstanding of Yoruba spiritual beliefs and stressed that Yemoja, Olokun and Osun are distinct deities with separate identities.
“Across Yoruba land, Isese is one. No one has a record of Yemoja as a fish or mermaid. Osun, Yemoja and Olokun are not the same,” she said.
Rosanwo further argued that the repeated depiction of Yoruba deities as Mammy Water figures or half-human, half-fish beings has contributed to the distortion of indigenous religious practices.
She wrote: “Our Irúnmọlẹ̀ are not mythical half-human, half-fish creatures. They are sacred divine beings. Those who later became Òrìṣà walked the earth as complete human beings before their transition. To replace that heritage with foreign imagery is to misinform the public and dishonour our cultural and spiritual legacy.”
The traditionalist also disclosed that members of the Molokun sect across Ijebu and other parts of Yorubaland had formally reported the issue to authorities including the National Film and Video Censors Board and the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria.
In an open letter addressed to the organisations, filmmakers and the public, she appealed for a review of the movie before release and stressed that her concerns were not intended to discourage artistic freedom.
“My concern was never directed at creativity or artistic expression. Rather, it stemmed from the responsibility we all share to protect the integrity of sacred indigenous traditions,” she said.
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Rosanwo additionally stated that, according to Yoruba Isese tradition, Olokun is recognised as “a revered male Irúnmọlẹ̀” and should not be represented as a mermaid.
Providing an update later, she said both NFVCB and TAMPAN had acknowledged the complaints and begun engaging with the concerns raised.
“I write this open letter with profound appreciation and sincere gratitude to the leadership of the National Film and Video Censors Board and the leadership of TAMPAN, Remo Zone Ogun State, for your prompt response and swift intervention,” she stated.
She expressed optimism that the conversation would encourage filmmakers to work more closely with recognised custodians of Yoruba indigenous heritage when portraying traditional religion on screen.