Mami Wata is a water deity (usually salty, but not exclusively) native to the Gulf of Guinea (Her name comes from “Mamy Water”). First linked to voodoo, its cult then spread to Ghana, Congo, Cameroon and the Caribbean (“Maman Dlo”, in the Quimbois of Guadeloupe, “La Sirène” in the voodoo of Haiti, “Madre de Agua” in Cuban Santeria). One of Her main characteristics is Her extreme power of metamorphosis, which makes Her one of the most respected (and most feared) deities in the voodoo pantheon. Many of Her altar figures represent Her with a fish (or snake) tail, but some statues depict Her in Hindu features; She was in fact compared to the goddess Durga by Indian soldiers in the second half of the 19th century during their stopovers in West Africa. At the foot of the altar, there are numerous offerings: bottles of lustral water, alcohol and perfume. She especially appreciates Limoncello, Bombay Sapphire Gin, and Chanel Numéro 5.

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Philippe Charlier, MD, PhD, LittD, is a forensic practitioner and anthropologist. He works on representations of the human bodies, and rituals related to diseases and death. He loves words, and more.