Ancestral knowledge: The woman who enlightens and directs our way.
On this Women's Day, PICHA brings us the story of Maria do Rosário, grandmother of our resident photographer Geovana Maria, who shared with us the woman who inspires her.
I couldn’t think of anyone else but my grandmother, Ms. Maria, as the woman who inspires me.
Maria do Rosário, is a 71 years old lady from Camaçari, Brazil. She’s a true Bahian. With a strong personality, she is known for being a warrior. Her story is marked by many moments of overcoming. She started working at a very early age as a cook in family homes and has raised three children by herself, even helping in the upbringing of her grandchildren.
As a great cook, she passed her knowledge to practically all the women around her. Through her teaching, some of these women made cooking their profession. One of them is her daughter, my mother Angela, who worked selling sweets and finger foods.
Synonymous with strength, even in difficult moments, Dona Maria always kept a smile on her face. Loving and charismatic, she became popular in her community for being a very playful person, always making her grandchildren and whoever was around her have fun.
I learned a lot from my grandmother. Every time I didn't feel well, she had a solution; using herbs, superstitions, and food. She passed on to me her caring love and knowledge that I carry with me wherever I go. Among the teachings, one that I carry with me to this day is the recipe for St. Anthony's porridge, also known as garlic porridge. Simple in its ingredients, the porridge is composed of cassava flour, garlic, water, and if you like, can add salt. The recipe is rich in vitamins and one of its functions is anti-inflammatory, besides helping to increase immunity, giving disposition and strength. Whenever I feel like getting the flu, I remember my grandmother saying: "Make the garlic porridge, kid" and for three consecutive days, I made and consumed the St. Anthony porridge. It never fails.
My grandmother cares about the way she looks, so she also taught me about skincare, teaching me the benefits of cold baths which, according to her, help to avoid skin aging. She taught me to use anise moisturizer, which is her favorite scent. From so many teachings shared throughout my upbringing, some have already escaped my memory but I don't forget my grandmother's caring way in everything she did. Those that remain with me to this day, I try to share with those I love because with Ms. Maria, I learned that care is a way to show affection.
The knowledge and flavors that my grandmother learned from her ancestors, that she passed on to me and that I try to keep passing on are an important part of my history and of who I am today; I feel inspired by this multitalented and knowledgeable woman.
When I close my eyes and remember my childhood, I travel to my grandmother's house and see the two of us in her backyard; picking acerola, washing the dishes, lying in the hammock or chatting away at the dinner table. It was with her that I began to understand life, learning ways to take care of myself, the space where I live and the people around me. In my most difficult moments, my grandmother was there for me and I am very grateful to be her granddaughter. Besides this, as a woman and especially as a black, adult and more mature woman, I am aware of the greatness of Ms. Maria's story and all that it represents.
Historically, I have noticed that black women worldwide are forced to go through complex situations where it is always expected of us to show strength and courage. Throughout my life, I have noticed that women around me were in this place without allowing themselves to feel their fragilities, to know themselves, their own feelings. With my grandmother, it was no different. Today, I understand that there is much more to Maria do Rosário besides strength and courage; there is also a sensitive, caring, insecure woman I see and I feel her fears and her complexities.
IDENTITY
It was a black woman, warrior like the force of the wind, who illuminated my paths and made me see my roots in myself.
There was a moment in my career as a photographer when I felt something was missing in the way I presented myself. I kept thinking about building a stage name, something in which I would feel fully represented. And that is how the name 'Geovana Maria' was born. Inspired by my grandmother, I adopted Maria along with my baptism name, which made and still makes a lot of sense. Today, I see myself reflected in my grandmother, the woman I grew up next to.
I hope that we can understand the issues that cross us, the issues that force us to pay attention to ourselves, that allow us to feel. I hope that we are not afraid of being many and multifaceted, that we understand our cyclical nature, respecting our phases, finding our roots, our essence and feeling represented. May we honor our ancestors, and may we continue to live, enlightening each other's paths. May we be the protagonists of our own history. Happy Women's Day!
Geovana Maria
Maria do Rosário e and her granddaughter Geovana Maria
