Mami Wata

“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.” — The Guardian

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. 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 a mysterious rebel deserter named Jasper, a conflict erupts, leading to a violent clash of ideologies and a crisis of faith for the people of Iyi.

Nigeria’s third-ever Oscar entry, this potent modern fable from C.J. 'Fiery' Obasi deploys vivid, monochromatic black-and-white cinematography, rich sound design, and a hypnotic score in a folk-futurist style, both earthy and otherworldly, to depict a pitched battle between opportunistic militants promising technological progress and a matriarchal spiritual order living in fragile harmony with the ocean.

Mami Wata transports us to a place that seems both suspended in time and perhaps running out of time as the threats of modern life wash upon its shores.

Sundance Film Festival 2023 — Winner, World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Cinematography
Nigeria’s entry to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
Nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards