Chief hounon mami wata vodoun amengansie priestess. The stories of fierce females from mythology and folklore are retold, placing women. Langston hughes, rivers mask, yaure, cote d ivoire, 1970 cantor arts center at stanford university presents mami wata. Mami wata, the most celebrated mermaidlike deity from africa who. Support our efforts to make videos about what we want. Mythology and you explore topics click on the covers to find out more about these resources for mami wata myths. They are mostly depicted as female, but some are male as well, and they are commonly accompanied by a snake. Jan 09, 2012 today, mami wata is a popular subject in not only the arts world, weve also heard songs about her, read books and poems about her, and a number of africanist art historians have written about her as well.
Our mission at mami wata is to be a creative force for good in africa. Mami wata are ancient, african deities whose primordial origins and name can be traced linguistically through the languages of africa. Oct 06, 2017 next march, henry holt books for young readers will release tomi adeyemis debut novel children of blood and bone, the first of a young adult trilogy set in a mythical country inspired by. Mami wata appears in many children stories as a mystical character who often brings good or bad luck depending on ones character. Mami wata often carries expensive baubles such as combs, mirrors, and watches. Mami wata mammy water is an afican and afroamerican. This first definitive work on the predomiance of this powerful african deity throughout the ancient world has quickly become a cult classic. Mami wata, the most celebrated mermaidlike deity from africa. It is in the indigenous religions of africa where the holy rites of sacrifice originated, and are still extant. Here is one of the songs about mami wata that i used to hear around when i was growing up. Kalfu haitian god of the night, symbolized by the moon. For 6,000 years, africa was ruled by a powerful order of sibyl matriarchs. Western africa, possibly modernday liberia or nigeria.
Augusta, ga prweb july 12, 2007 author, vivian hunterhindrew claims in her well researched, ground breaking new book, the sibyls. Mami wata and the innumerable mami and papi wata spirits have many faces, and their identities rarely remain constant. At once beautiful, protective, seductive, and dangerous, the water spirit mami wata mother water is celebrated throughout much of africa and the african. Also according to dogon mythology, the ancient home of these originally crude reptilian halfwomanhalfmenfish pantheon of water spirits is believed to be. Explore our website on your own or with your child to find books, movies, and other fictional media that both teaches a myth and entertains. Jul 01, 2004 an indepth historical overview of the mami wata vodoun ancestral traditions now practiced in west africa and in the diaspora. The evolution of mami wata in establishing, shaping and expanding the spiritual and sacerdotal foundation of world religion, reveals also the lost but glorious past of african womens spirituality. A fiber arts exhibition, and an astonishing array of opening events surrounding it, including talks by mami wata expert henry drewal with whom i did a very cool interview for mermaids magazine, just you wait, a. Mami wata is widely believed to have overseas origins, and depictions of her. Jan 01, 2008 mami wata, often portrayed with the head and torso of a woman and the tail of a fish, is at once beautiful, jealous, generous, seductive, and potentially deadly.
Warriors, witches, women is a guide to aweinspiring mythical female creatures. An indepth historical overview of the mami wata vodoun ancestral traditions now practiced in west africa and in the diaspora. As a water deity, she sometimes appears as a mermaid. Mami wata west african mythology works archive of our own. Both flora nwapa and veronique tadjo also published children books on the subject. Every storytelling tradition has a version of this original femme fatale, and whether she is called a siren, a rusalka, mami wata, or melusine, she is a powerful representative of the aquatic world both lifegiving and deathly, like water itself. This identification was also made by drewal in a 2012 book chapter on mami wata. Mami wata, pidgin english for mother water, is a beautiful, seductive water spirit who brings wealth and good fortune to those she favours. Much like the ocean, she can be volatile and dangerous, as well as protective and nurturing. She is widely believed to have overseas origins, and her depictions have been profoundly influenced by representations of ancient, indigenous african water spirits, european mermaids, hindu gods and goddesses, and christian and muslim saints. The dogons creation myth tells the stories of mami wata and traces records of its. Because african religions were the dominate transforming, experiential force popular throughout the ancient world, the demonization of its powerful clerics began during the rise of the competing roman church and its colonialeconomic ambitions in africa.
Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. To see the many faces of mami wata, check out this photo gallery, courtesy of the. Some of these myths traveled across the atlantic during the period of the transatlantic slave trade to become part of caribbean, cuban or brazilian mythology, with some endemic changes. The mami wata healers society of north america inc.
These spirits are often referred to as minions or soldiers, often males, for the higher deities, such as mami wata or mamba muntu, where they would kidnap, trick or deceive fisherman and seafarers to sacrifice or tithe to them. Rowling 1 dumas alexandre works 1 les trois mousquetaires the three musketeers series alexandre dumas 1 include characters mami wata west african mythology 3 mr. This book is committed to checking out the gods and goddesses that the people on the african continent worshiped, and within the audiobook, you will find more info about. Next march, henry holt books for young readers will release tomi adeyemis debut novel children of blood and bone, the first of a. The existence and spiritual importance of mami wata is deeply rooted in the ancient tradition and mythology of the coastal southeastern. Browse the worlds largest ebookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader.
Apr 01, 2009 there are certain requests best suited for mami wata, but for everything else, there are the other deities. Mami wata traces back to the earliest of african societies as recorded by the griots and keepers of history. Ive known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human rivers my soul has grown deep like the rivers. Mammoth books presents mami wata by simon kurt unsworth. Aug 24, 2012 so there is a pretty amazing exhibition opening up in charleston, south carolina, in the next few days. Nnedi okorafor and the fantasy genre she is helping redefine. Mami wata spirits are usually female, but are sometimes male, something they have in common with. Yes, black mermaids exist, along with many others from. Mami wata mammy water is a water spirit venerated in west, central, and southern africa. Mami wata is a waterspirit, sometimes described as a mermaid figure, who can found throughout the western coastal regions and into central africa. Venerated throughout africa and the african atlantic, mami wata embodies the spirit of water. Mami wata myth of mermaids is popular all around the world, but the african water spirit mami wata remained respected and celebrated from the time before the african nations came in contact with europe, through the ages, and even up to today where she is venerated in west, central, southern africa and the diaspora in americas. Mami watas are found where there are bodies of water are. Arts for water spirits in africa and its diasporas is an attempt to tell the story of the magical world of mermaids and other fantastic creatures, their myths and seductive powers.
This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook. Both words are rooted in the ancient egyptian and ethiopian coptic, galla and demotic languages. As you can see from the pictures, several of mami wata s attributes are present, mainly snakes. We believe that mythologies are an important part of learning and development and that expanding the narratives that our children are exposed to makes them more creative, empathetic, and multicultural adults. African surf clothing the power of african surf mami wata. When taken together, the case studies presented in this section reveal striking differences, as well as. It has also been observed that certain features are similar across these variations. Mami wata short stories in nigerian pidgin english seeks to facilitate the use of pidgin english as a national language in nigeria, and to create dialogue among young people in nigeria. Mami wata africa s ancient god dess unveiled vol i. Mami wata this article is about the goddess mami wata. She was also a goddess of fertility, sexuality, healing, wealth and beauty. The africanamericans and the ministry of mami wata paperback or softback by ronnie, chief apostle prof vic n.
Mami wata spirits are usually female, but are sometimes male. The many faces of mami wata at the smithsonian smithsonian. Mami wata also known by numerous other names, listed below is a goddess of the african diaspora whose immensely popular cult has grown in west, central, and southern africa, and in the caribbean and parts of south america since the. The sibyls were the original focal vatican of sacerdotal power of the entire ancient world.
They can bring good luck in the form of money and possessions. Some igbo stories suggest that the fish under the waters are her children, and that she uses them as firewood. Click download or read online button to get mami wata africa s ancient god dess unveiled vol i book now. Franko khourynational museum of african artsmithsonian institution the image of mami. It is interesting that the same exact animals utilized in vodouns propitiation, atonement and ancestral ceremonies are the same exact ones demanded in the old testament. The spiritual importance of mami wata is deeply rooted in the ancient tradition and mythology of the coastal southeastern nigerians efik, ibibio and annang people. A water deity or class of deities of the vodoun religion, the mami wata is venerated throughout communities in africa and brought with the african diaspora to the caribbean islands and surrounding regions. Mami wata by oluwagbemiga ogborocole overdrive rakuten. Mami wata mammy water is a water spirit venerated in west, central, and southern africa, and in the african diaspora in the americas. Meet the badass mermaid ruler of the rivers and coasts of western africa. Mami wata, sometimes represented as a snake charmer, is seen throughout africa as a powerful water spirit.
The existence and spiritual importance of mami wata is deeply rooted in the ancient tradition and mythology of the coastal southeastern nigerians efik, ibibio and annang people. African goddess reawakens in the soul of the diaspora. The mami wata deities have been apart of african and other indigenous spiritual systems since time immemorial. The first prophetess of mami wata, that for 6,000 years, africa was ruled by a powerful order of matriarchs known throughout the ancient world as sibyls. Practices associated with winning her favour, widespread in west africa and the black atlantic diaspora, are explored in 46 rich and perceptive essays by an international group of scholars and practitioners. Chapters in this book have me thinking about africanblack mens role in the overthrowing of the worship of mami wata, im wondering if the apparent aggressiveness towards africanblack women, of todays so called black hebrew. Arts for water spirits in africa and its diasporas at the national museum of african art in washington is as rousing as a drum roll, as piquant as a samba. For other uses of the name and its variants, see mami wata disambiguation. Also, the purpose of producing the work is to provide these young people an opportunity to read and write in a language my generation was deprived of using. In most common version, she stalks the shores of the ocean and abducts men and women while they are swimming or traveling in a boat. Found in many african folk stories, the legend of mami. I first read eghosa imasuens beautiful short story, which gives a glimpse into mami wata, a few weeks ago, but this post was inspired by my sister who told me about a short nigeria film, nkiru, which delves deeper into the mystery of the legend of the mami wata. A water spirit widely known across africa and the african diaspora, her origins are said to lie overseas, although she has been thoroughly incorporated into local beliefs and practics. See more ideas about art, saint martha and black mermaid.
So there is a pretty amazing exhibition opening up in charleston, south carolina, in the next few days. Mami wata, who knows how to exact revenge and how to enjoy the finer things in life. Mami wata is the term most used to refer to mermaid entity in african culture. Nnedi okorafor and the fantasy genre she is helping. The first prophetess of mami wata the theft of african prophecy by the catholic church. Stories of the encounters with the mami wata are widespread across entire africa.
The exhibition and the book that accompanies it aim to trace various streams of. At national museum of african art, a diva of the deep the. As conditions change, so do the attributes, personalities, and actions of these fascinating and enigmatic water spirits. In other tales, mami wata is fully human in appearance though never human. Feb 1, 2020 goddess of beauty, wealth and sexual control. This is a must read and i hope others will spread the word and message of this book.
We grew up hearing different tales of mami wata, a water spirit, found in. It chronicles the historic origins of its queen mothers whom many were sibyl prophetesses mamaissiis. Its seems that in the african mythology they have even compared her to the the goddess aphrodite or astarte from a living cult. Mesopotamian myths also tell of the great water goddess in their story of creation known as mami aruru to be the creator of life. Mami wata, the most celebrated mermaidlike deity from. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. More, mami wata, a water goddess known in certain parts of africa and the african diaspora, as well as the villain in of beasts and bonds, was represented in two statues. This book is a welcome validation for all who practice matriarchal spiritual paths honoring and venerating the primordial mothers and ancestors. I encountered this book during the writing of my dissertation on matriarchal systems of africa. A fiber arts exhibition, and an astonishing array of opening events surrounding it, including talks by mami wata expert henry drewal with whom i did a very cool interview for mermaids. Feb 29, 2016 the water spirit mami wata is sometimes described as a mermaid, sometimes as a snake charmer, and occasionally as a combination of both. If the goddess thinks that the captive is worthy of her attention, she will return them to the shore.
Aug 29, 2018 support our efforts to make videos about what we want. According to some renowned scholars, the name mami wata was originally formulated in ancient egypt and mesopotamia, and is derived from a composite of two african words, mami, and wata. Most accounts of how mami wata or mamba muntu came to be the main symbol of aquatic deities originated from a belief in water spirits. I highly enjoyed previous weird tales by simon kurt unsworth, and this one did not disappoint. The bottom half of their body is usually a fish tail, or sometimes a snake tail. To win the favor of mami wata, one must be clean and sweetsmelling both inside and out. Lotuko mythology lozi mythology lugbara mythology maasai mythology magec maher god malagasy mythology mami wata mamlambo mande creation myth marabout marinette vodou mawu maxios mazomba mbaba mwana waresa mbedi a mbongo mbeku mbombo mbongo mbuti mythology mmanwu mnguni mokelembembe moneiba mulungu mwari nana buluku ngai nganga ninki nanka. Mami wata is often portrayed as a mermaid, a snake charmer, or a combination of both. Myth of mermaids is popular all around the world, but the african water spirit mami wata remained respected and celebrated from the time before the african nations came in contact with europe, through the ages, and even up to today where she is venerated in west, central, southern africa and the diaspora in americas.
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