Beautiful and seductive, dangerous yet protective, the legendary African water deity Mami Wata is sometimes depicted as a mermaid, sometimes as a snake charmer, and sometimes as a combination of the two. Her name is pidgin English for “Mother Water,” and she will star in an exhibit from April 1 through July 26 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art.
“Mami Wata: Arts for Water Spirits in Africa and its Diasporas” will feature headdresses, masks, bronze objets d’art, and masquerade figures. Lectures, films, storytelling programs, and hands-on workshops relating to mermaids and other sea creatures will complement the show.
“Mami Wata: Arts for Water Spirits in Africa and its Diasporas” will feature headdresses, masks, bronze objets d’art, and masquerade figures. Lectures, films, storytelling programs, and hands-on workshops relating to mermaids and other sea creatures will complement the show.
