A depiction of Mami Wata by Ki-Khanga.
A depiction of Mami Wata by Ki-Khanga. Mami Wata (Mammy Water) is venerated in West, Central, Southern Africa, and in the African diaspora in the Caribbean and parts of North and South America. She is not synonymous with the Yoruba water orishas of Yemoja or Oshun, a common mischaracterization often made by western researchers. Mami Wata spirits are usually female, but are sometimes male. The appearance of her hair ranges from straight, curly to kinky black and combed straight back. "Mami Wata" where "Mami" is the Pidgin English spelling of mammy (mother) "Wata" is the Pidgin English spelling of water is essentially a mermaid or humanistic water entity. Mami Wata is often described as a mermaid-like figure, with a woman's upper body (often nude) and the hindquarters of a fish or serpent. In other tales, Mami Wata is fully human in appearance (though never human). The existence and spiritual importance of Mami Wata is deeply rooted in the ancient trad...