Mami Wata, diosa de la emigración

Résumé

This attempts to analyze the origin, structure and function of the figure of Mami Wata as a goddess of emigration, although there is an aspect of her being represented at present as a siren, half woman and half fish. This image appears in Africa following the appearance of the Portuguese sailors who had sculptures of sirens that Little by Little were applied to aquatic deities that appeared in West Africa particularly in the Níger Delta and the Benín coast. From the XVI th Century, Mami Wata appeared also in Surinam. She also plays an important role in haitian and dominican voodoo, as in Cuba, Brazil and other places. Mami Wata is venerated in some parts of India by hindus in relation to the goddess Lakshmi. The global character of Mami Wata, is present not only in the Atlantic but also in the Indian Ocean. This global character is also manifiested by the capacity of Mami Wata to cross the religious frontiers of Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.