Don't disturb the Mermaid

                    The Mermaid from Africa

Statue of a Maame Water in African Folkore

Ghana is one of the countries that borders the coast of West Africa, with 18 million people and six dominant tribe ;The Akan, Ewe, Ga-Adangbe, Mole-Dagbani, Guan, Gurma.It is bounded on the bu Cote Voire or Ivory coast and Togo on the East. it is a prosperous nation by African standard. Formerly called ‘Gold Coast’ ;  a moniker signifying the prodigious amount of gold found in the country. 

The Belief

 In the coastal area of Ghana and among the Ga tribes, the water spirit or Maame Water is worshipped.The Mami Water is an aquatic deity venerated not only in Africa but in the continent of South America as well . Literatures and folklores say that this water deity may be androgynous. The worship of this water goddess by the people is important to their cultural belief, as her worshippers hold the conviction in her ability to gift wealth and virility. She is said to sometimes kidnap her devotees and then transport to her kingdom beneath the ocean.; When such persons are returned to land, they become tremendously rich. 

The Appearance

Picture of a Mermaid

                                                     Courtesy Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash

Read about The Sacred Python of the East

The Maami Water or Maame Water is depicted in artworks as a beautiful woman with dark, curly long hair and a luscious upper body. From the waist down, though she has the appearance if a fish with scales and a hip merged with the tail . A snake is said to accompany her and is usually found resting on or around her neck.

                                                      Courtesy Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Across the coastal region of certain west African South African and central African  nations, the cultural practice of sacrificing to the mermaid of the seas persist.

In bustling seaside places like Kokrobite,Osu e.t.c , two months of the year are reserved for the worship of this goddess’s Maame Water, in this period no music is played in respect to her

The ban is lifted only when the 60days (two months ) are passed and then the Bass and Rythm can resume by the seaside.