Mamy Wata is an enigmatic, intrusive, and very popular water spirit who inspires many forms of art through statues, headpieces, masks, posters, and paintings.  Special cults, songs, dances, and rituals surround her (Book 2)

Mami Water's luxurious long hair is dada-Rasta hair and represents unrestrained fertility, creativity, and spirituality (Book 3).

"She has both arms raised and are wrapped by a python; another python coils from behind her torso and centers himself below her chin.  On top a tight fitting blue and white striped dress is covered by a red jacket vest trimmed with gold.  Her ears, chest, and hips are accentuated with gold jewelry in the form of circles and quarter moons.  Thick, straight, voluminous hair outlines a face of delicate features and light melanous skin.  Calm, controlled, powerful and peaceful, she stands there as an embodiment of wealth and riches.  A quarter of the picture's lower right is filled with a diamond-shaped frame filled with four inquisitive snakes and a small, horn playing boy is dressed similar to (Book 1).

Disguised as a child, old woman, man, or even a snake, butterfly, fish or some other animal, she leaves her watery home to roam the land via foot, taxi, car, or boat (Book 1).

"Mami Wata or Mambo Muntu is compared to the idyllic landscape and a portrait.  The most striking in these subtypes is Mami Wata because she is a half-woman, half-fish accompanied by a snake.  This is often a product of extensive cross-cultural  sharing that draws upon a traditional West and Central African, Indian, and European art forms.  The mermaid is typically shown in large scale.  The background of water is not heavily emphasized, but the figure appears in careful detail.  Each Mami Wata repeats the standard symbolic elements pertaining to the folk beliefs of her powers, a wristwatch that is set to traditional witching hour, a modern necklace that functions as charm, and a snake, held in her hands in which is can transform herself at any time to seeking vengeance in betrayal."  "We draw and paint Mami Water icons on the walls, so that even if you are illiterate the picture will tell you that this is a Mami Water shrine...even people come they will now what these are the divinities we revere...Mami Water had never come out from water and walked with a fish-tail for anyone to see...It is only the picture of painters that we will see....One should tell the truth for the blessing of God (Book 3)." 

For more information on sculptures and masquerades click on the words.