"Mami Wata" delivers powerful West African folklore

Written by Diane Carson

Should anyone doubt the power of West African folklore, they need look no further than Nigerian writer/director C.J. “Fiery” Obasi’s visually arresting “Mami Wata.” The first striking feature is the high-contrast, rich black-and-white cinematography that intensifies the facial painting of the residents of the oceanside fictional village of Iyi.

Shot in rural Benin, the sea, waves breaking and surging, punctuate and play a pivotal role in the story. That revolves around Mama Efe, an Intermediary between the villagers and water deity Mami Wata, hence the film’s title. Opening, on-screen text states that “Mami Wata is the water goddess worshipped and revered across West, Central, and Southern Africa, and among the Afrikan diasporas of the Americas.” But now in Iyi Mama Efe’s status will face a formidable challenge after the outsider, past rebel fighter Jasper washes ashore.

Jasper will promise schools, hospitals, and electricity as Efe’s esteem suffers with a death Efe can’t prevent amidst her opposition to vaccination. Two daughters, Prisca and Zinwe, contribute pivotal development through their powerful presences: Zinwe angry with Efe’s ineffectiveness, adopted Prisca skeptical but accepting, even indulgent. No spoilers here for the mesmerizing, confrontational action to follow, interpreted and propelled by Tunde Jegede’s score and enlivened by several dance interludes. Further, alternating day and night scenes communicate an environment that alternately hides and reveals the lust for power, greed, and privilege. Above all, the luminous clothes and the decorative body art of intricate designs make “Mami Wata” a visual feast.

Traditional Nigerian customs square off against promises of Western progress amidst tribal rebellion. As with the best folklore, an archetypal struggle is encapsulated in an allegory that maintains its relevance via this fresh interpretation. Can we ever learn what we should from the awareness and wisdom encouraged here? Winner of the cinematography award for Lílis Soares at the Sundance Film Festival, in Fon and West African Pidgin with English subtitles, “Mami Wata” screens Saturday, October 7, and Sunday, October 8, at Webster University’s Winifred Moore auditorium at 7:30 each of those evenings. For more information, you may visit the film series website.