You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
So your formal name is Yannette James.<br />
How did Oshun Yan come about?<br />
Yan is short for Yannette. And Oshun, well... I<br />
was very fond of Caribbean history in school.<br />
I learned about the trans-Atlantic<br />
slave trade where African people were sold<br />
to Western European slave traders.<br />
The slaves carried their own traditions and<br />
customs which are now lost because we<br />
adapt more to the Europeans. So, yeah, I just<br />
kind of move away from all that Europeanness<br />
and embrace my blackness, you know.<br />
But Oshun is the African Goddess of love and<br />
fertility.<br />
Ah! I see. Thanks for the history lesson(lol).<br />
So you're from Mon Repos, right? What was<br />
life like growing up as a little girl in Mon<br />
Repos?<br />
It was exciting. I remember all the kids<br />
playing in the yard until late without fear of<br />
being kidnapped. Going to the bakery was<br />
something everyone looked forward to on<br />
afternoons. I remember sewenal during the<br />
Christmas season. People would come out,<br />
dance in the street, sing – that was nice. That<br />
used to be the community spirit but things<br />
are changing. Such a beautiful community.<br />
Your community has a major part to play in<br />
shaping you and your development.<br />
That's for sure. Speaking of shaping and<br />
development, what were your childhood<br />
dreams? What did you want to be growing<br />
up?<br />
I’ve always dreamed of being a famous<br />
actress. I also wanted to be<br />
the governor general.<br />
Oshun with former Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy
Change language