Mami Wata

Mami Wata (also called Mammy Water and Bantu: Mami Muntu, Mamba Muntu) or similar is a mermaid, water spirit, and/or goddess in the folklore of parts of Western Africa, Central Africa, Eastern Africa, and Southern Africa. Historically, scholars trace her origins to early encounters between Europeans and West Africans in the 15th century, where Mami Wata developed from depictions of European mermaids. Mami Wata subsequently joined native pantheons of deities and spirits in parts of Africa.

Historically, Mami Wata is conceived of as an exotic female entity from Europe or elsewhere, often depicted as a fair-skinned woman with long, flowing hair and a particular interest in objects foreign to West Africans that her adherents place at her shrines. In the mid-19th century, Mami Wata's iconography became particularly influenced by an image of snake charmer Nala Damajanti spreading from Europe. This snake charmer print soon overtook Mami Wata's earlier mermaid iconography in popularity in some parts of Africa.

Mami is a goddess of wealth, fertility, healing, wisdom, and profound beauty. She holds the power to manipulate the oceans and rivers, and possesses the ability to transform in order to seduce and mesmerize humans with her alluring beauty.

Additionally, Hindu imagery from Indian merchants has influenced depictions of Mami Wata in some areas. Papi Wata, a male consort or reflection of Mami Wata sometimes depicted as modeled from the Hindu deity Hanuman, can be found in some Mami Wata traditions, sometimes under the influence of Hindu imagery.