Shrine Figure of the Goddess Mami Wata (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
Mami Wata is a water spirit venerated throughout many African cultures and across the Black Atlantic--the spread of African culture from the continent to the Western Hemisphere. The image of Mami Wata is believed to derive from a chromolithographic advertisement for a Samoan snake charmer that was produced in Germany and subsequently introduced in Nigeria. This example, which would have been placed upon an altar, depicts Mami Wata sitting on a stool.
Gift of Kenneth and Bonnie Brown
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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