Jul 21, 2009 make an offering to mami wata before time runs out. Most commonly portrayed as partwomanpartaquatic creature, mami wata is called upon by those pursuing wealth, wisdom, emotional guidance, and sexual liberation. Only a duly ordained mami wata priestess could initiate me and even then my head spirit, for whatever reason, refused to reveal himself until the correct person showed up some seven years later. In order to reverse this trend, the mami wata project is working with countries of the abidjan convention region to address human activities in an integrated and holistic way, ensuring that conservation and our various uses are compatible. Mami wata mammy water is a water spirit venerated in west, central, and southern africa, and in the african diaspora in the americas. Here is one of the songs about mami wata that i used to hear around when i was growing up. Mami wata is the term most used to refer to mermaid entity in african culture.
Mami wata is a member of vimeo, the home for high quality videos and. Pdf mami wata arts for water spirits in africa and its. The purpose of this writing is to provide the reader with some of the most important secret histories directly related to black people in america that pertain directly to the. Mami wata, the most celebrated mermaidlike deity from. The ancient traditions say that it was mami wata that would manifest to the african people as a water deities choosing to take on feminine or masculine features at will. A comprehensive resource on the ancestral tradition of west african and diaspora vodoun, mami wata, mama tchamba, amengansie and the many ancient deities of this powerful tradition. The oldest body found in america is that of a negroid names lucy prophet is muhammad. Mama zogbes ancestral calling west african diaspora.
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. Join facebook to connect with hounnon houedossi ahouegnon and others you may know. Read and dowload now 0974872997 pdf download mami wata. The sibyls, the first prophetess of mami wata mama zogbe on. This version of mami wata is closely related to the water spirit mamba muntu of. The earliest african depiction of this exotic, hybrid. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options.
The exhibit was at the national museum of african art in washington dc from april 1 to july 26, 2009 before traveling to other venues and stanford university in 2010. She appears to human eyes as a mermaid, and this is how she is usually represented. 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. 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 rituals of mami wata kindle edition by benito torres. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
Dec 10, 2014 provided to youtube by the orchard enterprises mami wata akin yai we are leaders not saints. Mami wata figure, igbo mia minneapolis institute of art. Beautiful, seductive, powerful, and fearsomethat is mami wata, a water spirit usually represented as a snake charmer or a mermaid. Africas ancient goddess unveiled t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s 2.
Mami is an exhibition as offering to mami wata, a pantheon of water deities that originates from west and central african matriarchal spiritual systems. The many faces of mami wata to win the favor of mami wata, one must be clean and sweetsmelling both inside and out wikimedia commons by joseph caputo. It is also about art, belief, globalization, capitalism, and the power of traveling images and ideas to shape the lives of people and communities. The west african vodounsis ancestors were not converts into these major religious systems, but were indeed ancestrally affiliated through their neolithic clans. In 1991, akoto underwent a religious conversion and joined the living faith. However, i suspect that the figure, and certainly the term mermaid, is an interpolation of western mythologies rather than an expression of a native one. At once beautiful, protective, seductive, and dangerous, the water spirit mami wata mother water is celebrated throughout much of africa and the african atlantic. The evolution of mami wata in establishing, shaping and expanding the spiritual and sacerdotal foundation of world religion, reveals also the lost but glorious. Arts for mami wata and other divinities in africa and the diaspora. Mami wata book sybils mami wata symbols mami wata mami wata.
Apr 01, 2009 the many faces of mami wata to win the favor of mami wata, one must be clean and sweetsmelling both inside and out wikimedia commons by joseph caputo. Mami wata represents one of the most celebrated and feared african goddesses which often appears to their followers and unsuspecting victims in the guise of incredibly beautiful mermaid. The mami wata are ancient african deities that were depicted with human upper bodies and fish or snakelike. A book of practical counsel revis the intelligent investor. Make an offering to mami wata before time runs out smithsonian. The sibyls, the first prophetess of mami wata by mama. Pirata was eight months pregnant, in order to give thanks to mami wata for her gift of fertility and to guide in the healthy birth of baby wata. Here you can find out more about this fascinating legendary african deity, whose influence reached all over the north, central and south america. Mami wata guides those far from home back to the motherland, where they shall reign in spirit as kings and queens.
To worship mami wata, you have to dance, roll on the ground, in the mud, drink alcohol, rub powder on your skin, give sweet gift, sacrifice sheep. All life came from the water and requires water to live. A book of practical counsel revis oxford fourth edition english file students book and work book b1 talking book. The mami wata project enhancing marine management capacity. Jul 19, 2014 mami wata also know as mami isis is the divine logos, the firmament on which creation exists. Despite being considered as an adaptation of the western mermaid, mami wata is a deity that has existed in africa for as long as african history and culture can recollect. It explores several narratives about mami wata, mythological. The mami wata healers society of north america inc.
Mami wata and the nigerian mermaid riot skeptical humanities. Her name may be an african derivation from mother water, but it is also possible that the term existed long before colonization and the use of english in africa. Mami wata is a member of vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Mami wata is often portrayed with the head and torso of a woman and the tail of a fish fig. Mami wata is often portrayed as a mermaid, a snake charmer, or a combination of both. Ghana \ the worship of mami wata in the village called. I am a priestess of african vodun in the pantheon of mami wata.
What to do when your child brings home a mami wata by chikodili emelumadu please note. Mami wata arts for water spirits in africa and its diasporas. Jun 09, 2015 thy name is vodun mamiwata priestess is the first duly initiated priestess of mami wata born in the african diaspora. Pdf in 2012, images of a mystical mermaid known locally as mami wata circulated on the internet and via peoples mobile phones, sparking. At once beautiful, protective, seductive, and dangerous, the water spirit mami wata mother water is celebrated throughout much of africa and the african.
During the culmination of writing her dissertation, in african american psychology after undergoing several years of psychoanalytic clinical training, acquiring a masters degree in psychoanalytic studies, a masters degree in education and other postgraduate studies, mami was. In so doing, those lost priestshoods can serve to heal families and provide a wealth of assistance to the world. In april, mami wata will make her appearance at the smithsonian museum of african art on the mall in washington, dc april 1ju. The mami wata project is focusing on the three thematic areas of the marine environment reporting some, the identification of convention of biological diversity cbd ecologically or biologically significant marine areas ebsas and marine spatial planning msp, to support integrated ocean management iom. Sacred waters bathe the histories of african peopleswaters of life, departure, and return. This book will show you the different methods to get in direct contact with the water spirits, known in africa as mami wata, and in other parts of the world as. Mami wata figure wood and paint by igbo artist, nigeria. Sometimes they appear as tears of deep sorrow, sometimes as soothing and cooling streams sustaining existence and hope. The mami wata deities have been apart of african and other indigenous spiritual systems since time immemorial. The chosen sacred spiritual path of choice of millions across the world. Mami wata spirits are usually female, but are sometimes male. A rich array of arts surrounds her, as well as a host of other aquatic spiritsall honoring the essential, sacred nature of water.
Sep 21, 2016 mami wata official music video from new album are we there yet. Mami wata has been incorporated into both christian and islamic beliefs in this part of nigeria, adding another layer of complexity. Mami wata and other divinities in africa and the diaspora and its companion dvd. Mami wata also known in various other regions as mammy water is used in this context as an umbrella term for both genders of the popular water entity i. In 1991, akoto underwent a religious conversion and joined within the last. This post contains affiliate links and i make a small commission used to support this blog. Arts for water spirits in africa and its diasporas read online. Halffish and halfhuman, mami wata straddles earth and water, culture and nature. African goddess reawakens in the soul of the diaspora. Fill out the details below and get your coupon, ebook and warrenty card. The rituals of mami wata by benito torres book read online. Today, the spiritual heritage of the descendants of enslaved africans across the diaspora, is callingout for them to reconnect back to their spiritual birthright that was disrupted during slavery.
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