Mami Wata is a movie that mixes fantasy and folklore, present and past as well as thriller and drama elements in an captivating, innovating and unique manner. This movie was written and directed by Nigerian cineast C. J. Obasi and shot in Benin during Fête du Vodoun. The story takes place in a coastal village whose population believes in mermaid deity Mami Wata. The most important person in this matriarchal society is Intermediary Mama Efe who communicates between the mermaid deity and the villagers. Some villagers however start doubting the worship of the mermaid deity as they observe neighbouring communities build streets, schools and hospitals while their children keep on dying at a young age. When Mami Wata's daughter Zinwe starts doubting her community's traditions and decides to flee the community as mysterious mercenary Jasper appears and attempts to seduce the other daughter Prisca, things start violently shifting out of control.

This wonderful movie convinces on numerous levels. First and foremost, the director has taken the extraordinary decision to shoot this movie in black and white. This strategy enhances the atmospheric depth of the natural landscapes such as the dark ocean, the long beaches and the nearby vegetation. This creative approach also makes the huts and streets look more sinister. The artistic face paintings equally manage to stand out which helps viewers distinguish the numerous different characters.

Speaking of the characters, they have been incarnated with much talent by several excellent actresses and actors. Rita Edochie convinces as calm, confident and courageous religious leader. Uzoamaka Aniunoh impresses as confused daughter and heir who loses her faith in Mami Wata. Evelyne Ily Juhen delivers the goods as initially jealous and naive daughter who ends up becoming a brave and smart leader. Kelechi Udegbe excels as narrow-minded villager who spends his time consuming alcohol, complaining about traditions and seducing women. Emeka Amakeze leaves a lasting impression as mysterious mercenary who arrives seemingly coincidentally in the community and shifts from a philosophical seducer to a violent leader.

The way this movie portrays the clash between progress and traditions is impressive as well. The flaws and strengths of both sides are shown throughout the movie without ever being moralizing. The flaws of traditions are child deaths, increasing poverty and disgruntled villagers. The strengths of traditions are common beliefs, steadfast rituals and strong stability. The flaws of progress are unpredictable manipulations, divided societies and increased weaponry. The strengths of progress are hope for the future, increased health and improved infrastructures. This goes to show that no option is imperfect or perfect.

The movie's story and the way it's told also deserve to be pointed out. The film starts as a family drama that turns into an action-thriller. The entire movie interweaves elements of folkore as well as supernatural sequences. The film's final scene leaves a particularly lasting impression in this regard. The film is told slowly but surely as it will reward patient viewers with an open mind most.

To keep it short, Mami Wata is a movie like none other. The Nigerian production shot in Benin combines a family drama with an action-thriller and cleverly interweaves elements of folklore with supernatural sequences. The changing and shifting story is told slowly but intriguingly. The cinematic choices stand out positively and leave lasting impressions. The actresses and actors convince throughout. This movie certainly deserves more attention and acclaim, so don't hesitate to give it a fair chance whenever you have the opportunity to do so.

Saw this at the Imagine filmfestival 2023 in Amsterdam. For starters, I want to overlook the black&white photography and the obligatory non-standard format, which I always connect with: Watch Me Being Different or telling us: This Means Something. Such outward appearances yield minus points with me. So, despite several reasons to score a 5/5 for the audience award when leaving the venue, I gave a 4/5 (good, but not excellent).

Luckily, there is ample compensation. Many good things lie in the storytelling. Out of a seemingly predictable plot, something very useful is made. Take a warlord misleading a village, by promising hospitals and schools to let them give him all their possessions, after which he buys weapons instead. The story is told in a way that is compelling and constantly moving forward. I'm not sure how the film makers did it, but it worked on me, despite being a certified nerd and mostly ignorant for atmosphere.

The full film title "Mami Wata: A West African Folklore" emphasizes the central role of folklore, call it superstition if you like. It makes the movie much more interesting. Do not forget that superstition is in the eye of the beholder, so the word is not used in a demeaning way. Our western religions can also be considered a superstition variant, albeit we never think of it that way. For example, the average inhabitant of the African continent, who learns about the Christian faith, is inevitably surprised about a son of God letting himself be killed on the cross, obviously something no real God can ever allow to happen. The latter is not a topic in the movie at hand. I only wrote about it alongside this movie, when it triggered associated thoughts that certainly contributed to my appreciation.

The would-be warlord, mentioned above, devises a scheme to get rid of our main protagonist. He thereby tries to avoid an uprisal of the village, inevitable when directly killing her. He creates a challenge, something she cannot possibly survive. Luckily, she gets help and thus overcomes his dangerous scheme. Later, when he is confronted with the rightful question where the promised schools and hospitals are, her sudden live appearance undermines his once powerful position. He winds up having all the weapons he dreamt of, but suddenly facing a phenomenon beyond the reach of his guns and bullets.

All in all, it is always interesting to delve into the beliefs and traditions of other continents. What we call folklore or superstition, has other roots than our traditions we have here. Still, none are to be deemed merely primitive, and thus ripe for modernization or even dismissal. A movie like this enlarges the differences, not to dismiss other cultures, but only to let us look in the mirror and get a better insight in what we harbor here as integral part of our civilization.