13.11.24, Mami Wata (2023)

In a mystical village on the coast of West Africa, the locals are in danger of losing their connection with the water goddess Mami Wata. When a stranger arrives and the community threatens to fall apart, the priestesses Zinwe and Prisca are faced with an impossible choice: stick to the ancient rituals or allow the forces of modernity in.

Mami Wata is the debut feature from director C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi and was enthusiastically awarded the prize for best cinematography at Sundance. Obasi created a hushed, rhythmic narrative that is as much a visual poem as a narrative drama. Mami Wata is more than an ode to African folklore: it is a powerful reflection on loss, faith and the power of female solidarity. Complex themes are distilled to simplicity through a hypnotic soundtrack, sophisticated dialogue and the ingenious use of black-and-white cinematography. The film makes us reflect on what is lost when the old is exchanged for the new - a powerful tribute to a deity on the verge of oblivion.

This film is preceded by Leila Feys' I Couldn't Birth You So I Birthed This Movie Instead (2024).