C.J. Obasi on Merging West African Myths and Genre Twists in Sundance Drama ‘Mami Wata’

Seven years before its Jan. 23 world premiere in Park City — the first-time that a homegrown Nigerian feature has scored a coveted slot in the World Cinema Dramatic competition at Sundance — C.J. Obasi’s “Mami Wata” began with a vision. The director was sitting on a West African beach, in between projects and contemplating his next move. Suddenly, an apparition came to him: A mermaid standing on the ocean’s shore, beckoning to a mysterious young woman behind him. “It was really vivid,” Obasi says. “It was in black and white. In the vision, the goddess’ eyes are red, but… Read Full Article