Event

About Mami Wata

In the oceanside village of Iyi, the revered Mama Efe acts as an intermediary between the people and the all-powerful water deity Mami Wata. But when a young boy is lost to a virus, Efe’s devoted daughter Zinwe and skeptical protégé Prisca warn Efe about unrest among the villagers. With the sudden arrival of the mysterious Jasper, a conflict erupts, leading to a violent clash of ideologies and a crisis of faith for the people of Iyi. [107 min; drama, fantasy; English and Fon with English subtitles]

This screening will be followed by a Q&A with Prof. Maria E. Hamilton Abegunde (IU African American and African Diaspora Studies) on the integration of Yoruba folklore into visual culture.

Presented in partnership with the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, The Media School, The Center for Documentary Research and Practice, and the Black Film Center & Archive, and generously supported by the Black Philanthropy Circle and the Women's Philanthropy Leadership Council.

"The movie has its own unique life force, and such confidence that if you're tuned into its wavelength, you'll forget to speculate on what will happen next." — Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com

"It’s a tightly controlled vision that, like many parables, induces a sense of the suddenly, viscerally new—in the look of a figure against the ocean, or the words of a mother telling her child to run—in what we’ve seen before and have always known." — Brandon Yu, The New York Times

"The sleek, stark images of this film are hypnotic; the faces are compelling and the hallucinatory finale is rather inspired. An arresting piece of work." — Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.

/film_images/mami wata 2.jpg /film_images/mami wata 3.jpg
/film_images/mami wata 4.png

Trailer, reviews, and more

Go to IMDb

Parking, map, and more

Plan your visit