Pop Culture references

Beyoncé

Over the years, some key pop culture figures globally have promoted knowledge of the Osun River and its associated goddess, Oshun. International pop star Beyoncé's impact has been particularly significant in raising global awareness about the Osun River and Yoruba traditions, as cultural analyses and interpretations by scholars, journalists, and fans regarding Beyoncé's Oshun/Yoruba imagery have been rife over the years. They have pointed out that her works have made multiple high-profile artistic references to the Yoruba water goddess across several major projects and life events. Again, while these references represent cultural analysis and interpretation by scholars, journalists, religious commentators, and fans, no official confirmation of Oshun/Yoruba inspiration has been provided by Beyoncé or her representatives, except later references in her music where she did explicitly mention Orisha: "From Black Parade with my Oshun energyyyyy/ baby sister repping Yemaya!", to Mood 4 Eva from Black is King "I am the Nala, sister of Naruba, Oshun, Queen Sheba, I am the mother".

Cumulatively, these efforts have brought millions of people into contact with Oshun's legacy and the cultural significance of the Osun River, adding to the conversations and awareness about the environmental and spiritual importance of protecting this sacred waterway to a global audience.

Lemonade Album (2016)

In her 2016 album Lemonade, scholars, journalists, religious commentators, and fans have noted Beyoncé's identification as the Osun goddess by her wearing the signature yellow-gold colour associated with Osun. In the music video for the song "Hold Up," Beyoncé appears as Oshun, the Yoruba water goddess of female sensuality, love, and fertility, wearing a flowing yellow Roberto Cavalli dress, gold jewelry, and bare feet. Her representation was particularly powerful because she portrayed Oshun as both beautiful goddess and scorned hateful woman, showing many sides to her.

Her artistic representations in Lemonade and subsequent performances sparked widespread discussion and analysis of Yoruba cosmology and the significance of the sacred Osun river among global audiences, and further enhancing the issues plaguing it.

2017 Grammy Performance

Her 2017 Grammy performance was another major moment where scholars, journalists, religious commentators, and fans have pointed out how she channeled the Osun goddess, bringing this powerful Yoruba spiritual tradition to one of music's biggest global stages, demonstrating how pop culture can serve as a bridge between ancient spiritual traditions and contemporary global consciousness.

Beyoncé embodied Oshun, a Yoruba water goddess of "female sensuality, love, and fertility," appearing prominently pregnant and adorned in gold. Her proudly and prominently displayed pregnancy wasn't Beyoncé's only nod to maternal empowerment - the performance featured pre-recorded projections of Beyoncé with her mother, Tina Lawson, and her 5-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy — three generations adorned in yellow.

Pregnancy Announcement (2017)

Beyoncé's pregnancy announcement of her twins in February 2017 has been referenced as one of the most iconic and culturally significant pregnancy reveals in modern history, while simultaneously serving as a powerful tribute to the river goddess, Oshun, and the sacred traditions of the Osun River. Scholars, journalists, religious commentators, and fans have pointed out how the carefully orchestrated photoshoot was steeped in Yoruba spiritual symbolism and directly connected to the water goddess's domains of fertility and motherhood.

The photoshoot which had the singer posing against vibrant floral backdrops wearing flowing fabrics in Oshun's signature colors - rich golds, deep oranges, and earth tones, broke multiple social media records simultaneously, including : Most-Liked Instagram Post of All Time (at the time) and Most-Liked Instagram Post of 2017, and sparked global conversations about African spiritual traditions, motherhood, and feminine power.

References

Academic and Scholarly Sources

Welang. (2021). "The Death and Resurrection of Oshun in Beyoncé's Lemonade: Subverting the Institutionalized Borders of Western Christian Thought in American Popular Culture." The Journal of Popular Culture. Wiley Online Library. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpcu.13050

Yeboah, Amy. (2016, April 29). Interview featured in "What Beyoncé teaches us about the African diaspora in 'Lemonade'." PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/what-beyonce-teaches-us-about-the-african-diaspora-in-lemonade

Major Media Analysis

The Washington Post. (2021, October 25). "The African, Hindu and Roman goddesses who inspired Beyoncé's stunning Grammy performance." https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/02/13/these-goddesses-will-help-you-understand-beyonces-grammy-performance/

Quartz Africa. (2022, July 20). "At the Grammys, Beyonce paid an epic tribute to African diaspora spirituality." https://qz.com/africa/908973/at-the-grammys-beyonce-paid-an-epic-tribute-to-afro-diaspora-spirituality

Quartz. (2022, July 20). "All the goddesses, from India to Nigeria, that Beyoncé channeled in her divine Grammy performance." https://qz.com/909266/the-goddesses-from-india-to-nigeria-that-beyonce-channelled-in-her-grammy-performance

Cultural and Community Perspectives

The Culture (For Harriet). "Beyoncé Channels the Yoruba Goddess Oshun in 'Hold Up' Visual." http://theculture.forharriet.com/2016/05/beyonce-channels-yoruba-goddess-oshun.html

Dorsey, Lilith. (2017, February 16). "Beyonce, Oshun, And Behavior Befitting A Queen." Patheos - Voodoo Universe. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/voodoouniverse/2017/02/beyonce-oshun-and-behavior-befitting-a-queen/

Orion Magazine. "The Spirit of Beyoncé." https://orionmagazine.org/article/oshun-of-beyonce-santeria-orisha-worship/

Religious and Theological Analysis

The Christian Century. "Beyoncé, Oshun, and the melting pot of American religion." https://www.christiancentury.org/features/beyonc-oshun-and-melting-pot-american-religion

The Christian Post. (2017, February 14). "Beyonce Performs at 2017 Grammy Awards Dressed as African Deity Oshun; Dancers Bow Before Her (Video)." https://www.christianpost.com/news/beyonce-performs-at-2017-grammy-awards-dressed-as-african-deity-oshun-dancers-bow-before-her-video-174899

Cultural Commentary

Remezcla. (2025, April 3). "Beyoncé's New Maternity Photos Pay Homage to Yoruba Goddess Oshun." https://remezcla.com/culture/beyonce-new-maternity-photos-oshun-goddess/

Refinery29. (2017, February 13). "Beyonce Grammys Cultural Appropriation Lemonade Album." https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/02/140736/beyonce-grammys-cultural-appropriation-lemonade-speech

Academic Course Analysis

Suzanne Churchill Community Course. (2017, March 21). "A Critical Analysis of Beyoncé's Lemonade: Hold Up, lets talk about Violence." Media & Community. https://courses.suzannechurchill.com/community-s17/2017/03/21/a-critical-analysis-of-beyonces-lemonade-hold-up-lets-talk-about-violence/

Reference Sources

Wikipedia. (2025, April 27). "Hold Up (song)." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hold_Up_(song)

The Beyonce Wiki. (2025, March 10). "Hold Up." Fandom. https://beyonce.fandom.com/wiki/Hold_Up

Personal and Fan Perspectives

Juju Bae. (2022, April 1). "Beyonce took me to the river (an ode to lemonade)." Personal Blog. https://www.jujubae.com/jujus-blog/Blog Post Title One-cjwhz

Note on references

These references represent cultural analysis and interpretation by scholars, journalists, religious commentators, and fans. No official confirmation of Oshun/Yoruba inspiration has been provided by Beyoncé or her representatives. As noted by multiple sources, "the Oshun tribute has not been confirmed by Beyoncé's camp" and "there is still no clear word from the Beyonce camp about her participation, or initiation in the religion."

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