Mami Wata

Mami Wata (Mammy Water) is venerated in West, Central, and Southern Africa, and in the African diaspora in the Americas. Mami Wata spirits are usually female, but are sometimes male.

Attributes of Mami Wata

Appearance

The appearance of her hair ranges from straight, curly to kinky black and combed straight back. "Mami Wata" where "Mami" is the Pidgin English spelling of mammy (mother) "Wata" is the Pidgin English spelling of water is essentially a mermaid or humanistic water entity.

Mami Wata is often described as a mermaid-like figure, with a woman's upper body (often nude) and the hindquarters of a fish or serpent. In other tales, Mami Wata is fully human in appearance (though never human). The existence and spiritual importance of Mami Wata is deeply rooted in the ancient tradition and mythology of the coastal southeastern Nigerians (Efik, Ibibio and Annang people). Mami Wata often carries expensive baubles such as combs, mirrors, and watches. A large snake (symbol of divination and divinity) frequently accompanies her, wrapping itself around her and laying its head between her breasts. Other times, she may try to pass as completely human, wandering busy markets or patronising bars. She may also manifest in a number of other forms, including as a man. Traders in the 20th century carried similar beliefs with them from Senegal to as far as Zambia. As the Mami Wata traditions continues to re-emerge, native water deities were subsumed into it.

Sirene

Sirene or Sirenje (Bulgarian: сирене, pronounced [ˈsirɛnɛ]; Macedonian: сирење, pronounced [ˈsireɲe]; Serbian/Croatian: сир, sir, Albanian: djath i bardhe) or known as "white brine sirene" (Bulgarian: бяло саламурено сирене, [ˈsirɛnɛ]) is a type of brined cheese made in South-Eastern Europe, especially popular in Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Montenegro, the Republic of Macedonia, Greece and also in Israel. It is made of goat's milk, sheep milk, cow milk or a combination of milks. It is slightly crumbly with min. dry matter of about 46-48% and fat content in dry matter of about 44-48%. It is commonly produced in blocks, and has a slightly grainy texture. It is used as a table cheese, as well as in salads and in baking.

In Bulgarian, the general term for any type of cheese is сирене (sirene), although this also refers more specifically to the brined cheese made in the region.

Recipes

Sirene, together with yogurt, is a national food of all the countries in the Balkans. Many Romanians, Bulgarians, Bosnians, Serbs, Croats, Macedonians, Montenegrins, Albanians and Greeks regularly eat some sirene or yoghurt in some form.

Sirene (Skambankt album)

Sirene (Norwegian for "siren") is the fifth studio album by Norwegian Hard rock band Skambankt. It was recorded at Propeller Studios with Kåre Vestrheim as producer. The album is described as "mature, dark, and heavy, and at the same time more catchy and ambitious than before". The album made it to the 1st place of the Norwegian album charts in the first week after the release.

The demo for the album was recorded at Bore Gardsrockeri, an old potato cellar in Klepp in Jæren/Norway, throughout the years 2012 and 2013. The lyrics were mostly written by Terje Winterstø Røthing. The Norwegian singer/songwriter Tønes contributes to the record, singing on the song Sånne som deg.

The first single Voodoo was released on November 11, 2013, and was accompanied by a marketing stunt where fans could hand in an old plastic guitar in exchange for a vinyl single.

Track listing

Sirene (barque)

The Sirene was a barque that was wrecked against Blackpool's North Pier on 9 October 1892.

Shipwreck

The Sirene was sailing from Fleetwood to Florida in the United States when she was caught in a storm on 9 October 1892 and ended up wrecked alongside North Pier, Blackpool. All eleven crew jumped from the ship onto the pier and were saved.

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References