The Merwomanist Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mami Melusine
A podcast about Black mermaids, fantasy, spirituality, and aquatic culture. Hosted by mermaid scholar and enthusiast Mami Melusine.
On this weeks episode, I give my mid-season review of House of Dragons!
My Website and Mermaid Research
https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
Show Reviewed: Season Two of House of the Dragon on HBO
Correction: At one point I say Oscar Tully saying “Oh Dear!” during the gathering of the houses of the Riverlands, what I really meant was Simon Strong said “Oh Dear!”
Welcome back, merfolk! On this mini-episode, I give my brief review of various black middle grade fantasy books that I loved and recommend.
My Mermaid Research: Jalondra Davis' engaged scholar project
- On this episode, I review Tracey Deon's Legendborn Cycle and give my take on Black, young adult fantasy.
My Website and Mermaid Research
https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
Tracy Deon’s Legendborn and Bloodmarked
Natasha Bowen’s Skin of the Sea
Bethany Morrow’s Song Below Water
B.B. Alston’s Amari and the Night Brothers
Videos
Youtube Video: W.O.C. Reader, “Done with the Legendborn Series”
Join me as I give my mid-season review on House of Dragons, speaking more broadly about race and fantasy and my views on this season thus far.
Season 1 Mid-Season Review
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mami-melusine/episodes/Replay-Dragons--Mermaids--and-Diverse-Casting-e2lmn62
Media Mentions:
Game of Thrones
House of Dragons
My Website and Mermaid Research
https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
This episode is about race and fantasy more broadly. I use my thoughts on Episode 7 of Dance of the Dragons, "Driftwood" and the Freeform mermaid show Siren to think (and rant) out loud about race, settler colonialism, casting, and fantasy fandoms. This is a different one so hope that folks enjoy. We'll be back more to mermaids in the next one!
My Research on Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Mermaids
My Review of Skin of the Sea in Los Angeles Review of Books
Caveats and corrections: My comments on Dance of Dragons are meant only to talk about Aemond as a character and not about the actor who plays him. I know the difference between fantasy characters and real life children. The Sharma sisters on season 2 of Bridgerton are Indian-British. I identified them as Southeast Asian but I like to use the most specific descriptors of identity and nationality when known.
Terms Used:
settler colonialism: a form of colonization in which the incoming settlers seek to not only control and extract resources from a colony but displace and replace the original inhabitants of the land
Media Mentions:
Game of Thrones
Dance of Dragons
Bridgerton
Hamilton
Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1998) (There were earlier film versions of the musical)
Siren
Shoutouts:
Black Girl Nerds
Book Mentions:
Nalo Hopkinson's The New Moon's Arms
Rivers Solomon's The Deep
N.K. Jemison's The Stone Sky , Book 3 of The Broken Earth Trilogy
Natasha Bowen's Skin of the Sea
On this episode, we recap Afro-Mermaid Summit and I give you my main tips for travelling and attending mermaid conventions!
My Website and Mermaid Research
https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
Recent Article on Black Mermay (talks about Black Mermay Day, “swimming mermaids,” and Afro Mermaid Summit)
https://asapjournal.com/node/our-mermaid-craze-my-mermay-and-the-black-mermaid-renaissance/
https://www.instagram.com/blackmermay/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1667508080126562/
https://www.afromermaid.co/thesummit
Black Mermay Day
Afro Mermaid Summit
Welcome back, merfolk! Your host Mami Melusine, known in academic circles as Dr.Jalondra A. Davis, is here with another immersive episode. Today's guest is,the phenomenal Carrie Wata, founder of the Afro Mermaid Summit. Join us as weplunge into the deep blue of Carrie's captivating journey, from her bond withwater during her Florida childhood to the birth of her transformative AfroMermaid concept—a unique blend of African spirituality, physical wellness, andenvironmental awareness for Black women.
We'll be swimming through the enriching experiences of the annual Afro MermaidSummit, exploring its empowering storytelling sessions and the enchantingallure of beach activities, all designed to cultivate unity, body positivity,and self-love. As we navigate the currents, we'll uncover the significance ofdiverse mermaid imagery, the profound connection between Black women and water,and how this movement forges a resilient sense of community. Prepare tosubmerge into the intriguing depths of the Afro Mermaid universe, my delightfulmerfolk! Let's make some waves!
In this replay episode I talk about my personal mermaiding journey, the mermaid lore that inspires my mersona, and what my platform is all about.
Cover Art:
Photo by Natasha Gumbs Art
My Mermaid Research:
Link to All Publications
Article that most addresses topics in this episode (African Indigenous Religions, Mami Wata): Crossing Merfolk Narratives of the Sacred. The bibliography also has a lot of sources that you can check out!
Other Sources Referenced and Cited:
Ytasha Womack, Afrofuturism, The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture
Lesley Braun, "Tales from the Congo River: Catching Mami Wata"
Multiple Authors/Unknown, One Thousand and One Nights, or Arabian Nights
Christina Baccchilega & Marie Alohalani Brown, editors, The Penguin Book of Mermaids, "The Legend of Melusina"
Texts Mentioned:
Beyonce, Lemonade
Freeform, Siren
Nalo Hopkinson, The New Moon's Arms
Mermaid Shoutouts:
April Kalen Campbell (My pole teacher who introduced me to mermaiding)
Mermaid Che Monique
The Caribbean Pearl
Merman Maui
Carrie Wata
Indigo Siren
Other Business Shoutouts:
Conrad Cooper, Swim To Me (My swim teacher!)
She’s Back!!!
Greetings y’all, I missed you! In this first episode ofSeason Two I talk about some of what I have been doing these last months and why my season break was so long, share about my recent pubs and events, preview my plans for Season Two, and reflect upon the complexities of online activism against colonial violence.
My Website, Research, and Social Media
www.jalondradavis.com
https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
Instagram and Threads: @mami_melusine
Instagram: @merwomanistpodcast
My Recent Events and Publications
UCR Spooks Series, Sweetheart with Jalondra A. Davis
Palm Desert Art Museum, “MixedFeelings”
Jalondra A. Davis, “My Mermay and the Black Mermaid Renaissance” Our Mermaid Craze in ASAP-J
Jalondra A. Davis, Keynote Speech in the ButlerSeminar of Religious and Global Affairs: African Diaspora Faith and Expressions: Black and Womanist as Expressed Through Mermaids and Priestesses
Across the Cline Podcast Featuring Jalondra A. Davisand Dani Nembhard, “Mermaid Justice”
Resources for Palestine and Congo
Parkin Lot Pimpin' Episode on Global Solidarity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swhAoM1dTv8
Resources on Palestine:
https://decolonizepalestine.com/
https://palestinianfeministcollective.org/?link_id=14&can_id=ceb24f777097b2ab203f1092629b7803&source=email-starting-now-teach-in-for-palestine&email_referrer=email_2098649&email_subject=teach-in-for-palestine-recording-resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj0ZcSL-zGI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEJP-Sksuwc
Resources on the Democratic Republic of the Congo
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/21/a-guide-to-the-decades-long-conflict-in-dr-congo
https://record.goshen.edu/opinion/silenced-black-voices-congo-needs-your-attention
https://friendsofthecongo.org/
Trigger Warning: Brief, non-graphic discussion of themes of grooming, sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence.
Summary:
Mami Melusine discusses Tananarive Due's short story and Joe West's film adaptation "The Lake," about a mysterious woman with a dark past who is drawn to a lake that something also dangerous dwells in and Christine Chen's Erzulie, a film about four friends' encounter with a Black mermaid goddess at a campsite where they find their lives to be in danger.
Notes:
- Though I warn in the beginning of the podcast that my reviews may not be spoiler-free, I did manage to discuss the story and both films without giving away the endings. Feel free to engage without watching the films beforehand.
- At one point I refer to visuals: for those without the video podcast I am referring to the illustrations of Mami Wata as light-skinned and monstrous from the graphic novel, Mami Wata: Beyond Time and Space, linked in citations below.
Texts Cited/Mentioned:
Tananarive Due, "The Lake" also in Tananarive Due, Ghost Summer
Joe West, Tananarive Due, and Stephen Barnes, "The Lake," in Horror Noire
Christine Chen,Erzulie
Omise'eke Natasha Tinsley, Ezili's Mirrors: Imagining Black Queer Genders
Rollin Ravel Essango, African Tales, Myths, and Legends: Mami Wata Beyond Time and Space
Gabrielle Tesfaye, The Water Will Carry us Home
Jalondra A. Davis,"Crossing Merfolk Narratives of the Sacred: Nalo Hopkinson's The New Moon's Arms and Gabrielle Tesfaye's The Water Will Carry Us Home," and other mermaid research
I debated on whether to cite and link the Vlad Interviews that I referred to in my discussion of sexual abuse in "The Lake." I don't like him and don't want to send people to his platform and the stories themselves are also very disturbing and traumatic. If you would like to verify what I was referring to, the comedians I was referring to who I have seen tell stories of childhood sexual abuse are D.L. Hughley and DeRay Davis and the clips can probably be found on Youtube.
Trigger Warnings:
Gun Violence, Violence against women, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation
Summary:
A reaction to Megan Thee Stallion's new video, Cobra. Discusses the Mami Wata aspects of the imagery as well as my thoughts about Black female performance and the song's themes.
Mentions/Citations:
Megan Thee Stallion, "Cobra"
Trigger warning: some brief mentions of horror scenarios: violent death, body horror, child death, and gore
Summary: In this bonus episode, I review my very busy month of October, talk about some more Black horror films I watched, and describe my trip to DC for another very Black mermaidy art exhibit!
My Mermaid Research:
https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
Citations and Mentions:
University of California, Santa Cruz, Festival of Monsters
California State University, Los Angeles, Eagle Con
University of California, Riverside and UCR Arts, Spooks:A Black Horror Film Series
Bomani J. Story, Angry Black Girl and Her Monster
J.D. Dillard, Sweetheart
Shannon Scott, “Dark Faeries in Horror Literature and Film” (The presentation about changelings that I was referring to)
Kelly Marcel & Melina Matsoukas, The Changeling
Khadijah Mbowe, "get in loser, we're entering our villain era,"
Ayana V. Jackson, From The Deep: In the Wake of Drexciya @ Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C.
Afrofuturism Exhibit @ Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Mermaid Che Monique
Tananarive Due, Ghost Summer
Other Episodes Mentioned:
"Talking Black Horror with Nicole Sconiers," Merwomanist Podcast
Trigger Warnings:
We are talking about horror. So there is some mention of violence, murder, and sexual violence. There are no graphic descriptions.
Summary
In the second episode of my Black horror series, I interview my friend, writer and screenwriter of horror and speculative Fiction, Nicole D. Sconiers. This is such a rich, vibrant, productive conversation full of so many Black horror recs!
My Mermaid Research
https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
Mentions/Citations:
Nicole Sconiers
Nicole Sconiers, Escape from Beckyville: Tales of Hair, Race, and Rage
Nicole Sconiers, "How to Become An Ancestor"
Nicole Sconiers, "Saints and Shapeshifters"
Nicole Sconiers, A Mother's Intuition
Jordan Peele, Out There Screaming: An Anthology of Black Horror
Kinitra Brooks,Sycorax's Daughters
Peter Medak, The Changeling
Zakya Harris, Rashida Jones, The Other Black Girl
Alter (Youtube Channel for Horror shorts)
Blaque Witch Yaya, "Haunted Underwater Black Community/Lake Lanier"
Tananarive Due, My Soul to Keep
Tananarive Due, "The Lake" in Ghost Summer
Zandashé BrownRobin GivensRob GreenleaKimani Ray Smith, "The Lake" in Horror Noire (2021)
Zora Neale Hurston, "Spunk"
Edgar Allen Poe, "The Telltale Heart"
Misha Green, Lovecraft Country
C.Y. Marshall,Lady Ice (series)
Janine Nabers and Donald Glover, Swarm
Nicole Givens Kurtz, Slay: Stories of the Vampire Noire
Justina Ireland,Dread Nation
Nikyatu Jusu, Nanny
Breonna Taylor SAY HER NAME.
Other Episodes Referenced:
Mami Melusine, "Nikyatu Jusu's Nanny: Mami Wata Onscreen" The Merwomanist Podcast
Mami Melusine, "Mami Melusine Reflects: Mermaids, Motherhood, and Grief"
Mami Melusine, "Mami Melusine Watches: Mermaid Horror Films"
Episode Summary:
Welcome Back to the Merwomanist Podcast! I am excited for October, the month of my favorite holiday, Halloween, and we are celebrating with a series of episodes focused on mermaid horror and Black mermaid horror. Mermaid horror is a little-known but very rich subgenre in horror film. This episode gives my rankings (from the worst to the best) and very brief reviews of my top nine mermaid horror recs.
Mermaid Horror Films with their Rankings
9. Killer Mermaid
Director:Milan Todorovic
Writers:
Marko Backovic Barry Keating Milan Konjevic
8. The Little Mermaid
Directors: Roxie Blumand Matt Martin
Writer: Matt Martin, adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s TheLittle Mermaid
7. Mermaid, Lake of the Dead
Directors:
Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy
Christopher Bevins
Writers:
Natalya Dubovaya
Ivan Kapitonov
Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy
6. Mermaid Down
Director:Jeffrey Grellman
Writers:
Kelly Lauren Baker
Jeffrey Grellman
5. Mermaids Song
Director:Nicholas Humphries
Writers:
Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin
Bob Woolsey
Meagan Hotz
4. Erzulie
Director:Christine W Chen
Writers:
Christine W Chen
Camille Gladney
3. Blue My Mind
Director:Lisa Brühlmann
Writers:
Lisa Brühlmann
Dominik Locher
- Nanny
Writer/Director: Nikyatu Jusu
1. The Lure
Director:Agnieszka Smoczynska
Writer:
Robert Bolesto
Other Films Mentioned:
Wang Yanpeng,Invasion of the Mermaids
Stuart Gordon, H.P. Lovecraft Dagon
M. Knight Shamylan, Lady in the Water
Catherine Hardwicke, Thirteen
Victoria Mahoney, Yelling to the Sky
Maïmouna Doucouré, Cuties
Guillermo del Toro, Pan's Labyrinth
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Other Mentions:
Jack Zipes, The Irresistible Fairy Tale: TheCultural and Social History of a Genre
Mami Melusine, Nikyatu Jusu’s Nanny: Mami Wata Onscreen, TheMerwomanist Podcast
My Mermaid Research:
https://www.jalondradavis.com
Summary:
Welcome back to the Merwomanist Podcast! We just finished a grief series so I am keeping it light. This episode I will be talking about the mermaid aspects of Beyonce's incredible Renaissance Tour which I finally saw in LA. (Inglewood, really!)
This starts a bit abruptly because it was a part of another episode that I decided to split into two after filming.
Scholarship Cited:
Both of these sources are chapters in Scaled for Success: The Internationalisation of the Mermaid, edited by Philip Hayward.
Malam Shalaby, “The Middle Eastern Mermaid: Between Myth and Religion”
Nettrice Gaskins, “Mami Wata Remixed: The Mermaid in African American Culture”
My Mermaid Research:
https://jalondradavis.com/ (Scholar Page)
Other Mentions:
Beyoncé, Renaissance World Tour
Sandro Boticelli, “The Birth of Venus”
Harmonia Rosales, “The Birth of Oshun”
Star Trek,The Borg Queen
Recommended:
https://www.brooksmuseum.org/exhibitions/harmonia-rosales-master-narrative
Merwomanist Podcast, Beyonce is a Mermaid
Merwomanist Podcast, Beyonce is a Mermaid Part II
Trigger Warnings for death, trauma, and grief.
Summary:
This episode is my reflection on this month's grief series. I talk about lessons learned from my interviews this month, the crossing merfolk concept, and building ancestral altars in the midst of the conditions of Black life and death. I also talk about the emotional challenges of parenting a child with disabilities and reclaiming the true meanings of self-care.
My Mermaid Research:
https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
Books Mentioned or Cited:
Audre Lorde, A Burst of Light
Other Mentions:
“Grief is Part of My DNA”: Mermaiding Through Grief with Nicia the Bright-Eyed Siren
Chasing Waterfalls: Black Mermaids Founder Julia Mallory on Grief, Care, and Healing
Trigger Warnings:
child loss, Covid pandemic
Summary:
Welcome Back to the Merwomanist Podcast with Mami Melusine. On this third episode of my grief and mermaids series, I interview Black Mermaids Brand founder Julia Mallory. Julia Mallory is a writer, multi-modal artist, healing facilitator, and entrepreneur. She created her company around her poetry collection, Black Mermaids, which envisioned the transformation of people lost to the transatlantic slave trade into mermaids, a story also depicted in her picture book, Kareemah and the Black Mermaids. She uses her writing, creativity, and community work to create collective spaces of healing for herself and others following the loss of her vibrant, beautiful son Julian in 2017. This episode is a tender one, but it is full of wisdom and insight that you will not want to miss.
Podcast Guest Info:
Julia Mallory
www.blackmermaids.com
https://www.instagram.com/blackmermaidsbrand/
https://www.facebook.com/blackmermaidsbrand
Books Mentioned or Cited:
Julia Mallory, Black Mermaids (poetry collection)
Julia Mallory, Illustrations by Taqiyyah Muhammad Kareemah and the Black Mermaids
Julia Mallory, Survivor’s Guilt
Toni Cade Bambara, The Salt Eaters
Joy James, “Captive Maternal Love: Octavia Butler and SciFi Family Values,” in Feminist Writing and the Emergence of Feminist Theory, Robin Goodman, ed. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2015.
June Jordan, excerpt mentioned from “Poem for South African Women” in Directed by Desire: The Collected Poems of June Jordan
Audre Lorde, A Burst of Light
Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon
Jennifer C. Nash, Birthing Black Mothers
Other Mentions:
Julia Mallory and Tiana Zabala, “The Grief Garden: Supporting Collective Grief” Grief Out Loud: A Podcast by the Dougy Center.
Julia Mallory, “Chasing Waterfalls”
“Grief is Part of My DNA”: Mermaiding Through Grief with Nicia the Bright-Eyed Siren
In this series on grief, we are thinking about the role of mermaids in processing grief and pain. On this episode, your host Mami Melusine speaks with Nicia the Bright Eyed Mermaid about her journey of mourning and mermaiding after the sudden loss of her husband.
Nicia recalls the fairytale gift of her first custom mermaid tail from her late partner, supporting her childhood aquatic dreams. To honor his spirit, she later attended a mermaid retreat they had planned together. Through the physical demands of mermaiding, Nicia found an emotional release and transformation during her grief.
Mermaid Companies/Artists:
- Fin Folk Productions - mermaid tail company
- Mermaid Brandy - mermaid inspirational figure Brandee Anthony, The Vero Beach Mermaid. https://www.verobeachmermaid.co/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGlUmXhV8iC-bMH-nW8c9Aw
https://www.instagram.com/verobeachmermaid/?hl=en
- Mermaid Kariel: https://mermaidkariel.com/pages/mermaid-entertainment
Books:
- Eat Like a Fish by Brennan Smith
Articles:
- Wild Swimming As A Black Woman Helped Me Heal From My Grief
Other Mermaids Mentioned:
- Sandeja Sullivan Instagram: @day_the_offgridmermaid
Other References:
- The Little Mermaid (2023)
- Once Upon a Time (TV series) (2011)
-
Vicki Harrison, “Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.”
-
Interview with Cookie Washington, The Merwomanist Podcast
- Womanism - coined by Alice Walker, sometimes considered a Black version of feminist theory, a critical theory of liberation that centers spirituality, healing, and Black women’s culture without always necessarily “elevating gender above other forms of oppression as a lens of analysis”-Layli Phillips. The last line of Walker’s definition/poem/theoretical statement says, “Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender”
My Mermaid Research: Jalondra Davis' engaged scholar project
Virtual Assistance & Podcast Production: Hella High Magic Media
Though this month is my grief series, I just wanted to take a moment to talk about the release of Halle Bailey (Hallariel!)'s single "Angel," it's public reception, and thoughts I am having about the discourse about the Bailey sisters and binary discussions of sexuality and Black womanhood and girlhood.
Note: Since this is a quick bonus episode I am not doing any editing but one thing that I want to add to it: I realize that Halle herself might not mean angel in the kind of connotations of purity, goodness, sexual virtue that the figure of an angel brings up for me. The more that I listen to it, the more that I think she wrote the song for herself and for any Black girl, including her sister, that is persevering and believing in her value through people trying to attack her and bring her down. These are just the associations that come up for me when I hear the word angel.
Mentions:
Disney's live action The Little Mermaid
Chloe & Halle
Halle Bailey, "Angel"
Chloë, "Pray it Away"
Chloë, "In Pieces"
Welcome back, merfolk! I'm your host Mami Melusine, also known as Dr. Jalondra A. Davis, mer-scholar extraordinaire. This is the first in a series exploring the connections between mermaids and grief in literature.
In this thought-provoking episode, we'll dive deep into powerful black mermaid books and stories dealing with loss and healing. We'll encounter diverse experiences of grief through themes of motherhood, childhood, Caribbean lore, and magical realism.
Art and Media Referenced:
Books:
- Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn (novella)
- Josephine Against the Sea by Shakirah Bourne (middle grade)
- The Home of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow (middle grade)
- Left Foot, Right Foot by Nalo Hopkinson (short story in collection, also published in Strange Horizons magazine)
My Mermaid Research: Jalondra Davis' engaged scholar project
Virtual Assistance & Podcast Production: Hella High Magic Media
Welcome back, everyone! I'm your host, Mami Melusine, also known as Dr. Jalondra A. Davis in academic circles. For those who are still thinking about the latest take on Disney's The Little Mermaid, this episode is for you. I am breaking down what's new and what's canon in the latest live-action movie starring Halle Bailey.
Make no mistake - I loved it! But I think the updates to the music, costumes, and plot points really make it a different movie from the 1989 animated classic. Dive in with me to see what I thought!
Art and Media Referenced:
- The Little Mermaid (1989 Disney animated film)
- The Little Mermaid (2023 live-action film)
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (2008 Disney animated prequel film)
- Maleficent (2014 live-action film)
- Cruella (2021 live-action film)
- Beauty and the Beast (2017 live-action film)
- The Lion King (2019 live-action film)
- Aladdin (2019 live-action film)
- The Little Mermaid (Broadway stage musical adaptation)
My Mermaid Research: Jalondra Davis' engaged scholar project
Virtual Assistance & Podcast Production: Hella High Magic Media
Welcome back, everyone! I'm your host, Mami Melusine, also known as Dr. Jalondra A. Davis in academic circles. In this thought-provoking episode, we're diving in again to Beyonce's connection to the fascinating realm of water spirits, and its profound connection to rivers, danger, and transformation.
Through Beyonce’s Black is King, we explore some of the complex issues around Mami Wata, including her associations with wealth, infertility, sexuality, and colorism. Let's dive in!
Art and Media Referenced:
Movie: Lion King (2019)
Music Albums: Lemonade (2016), Black is King (2020), Homecoming (2019) Beyonce
Snake Charmer lithograph:
Drewal, Henry (Summer 2008). "Mami Wata Arts for Water Spirits in Africa and Its Diasporas". African Arts: 70–71.
Elyan Hill, “Dynamic Traditions in Kimberly Miguel Mullen’s
Yemanja, Journal: Society of Dance History Scholars Society of Dance History Scholars 2016 | Volume XXXVI
Tales From the Congo River: Catching Mami Wata" by Lesley Braun appeared in Shima, 15(2), 36-51 in 2021.
A Philosophical Appraisal of Spirituality and Witchcraft through Mami Water Belief System in Igbe Cult Traditional Religion in Aguleri Cosmology.
American Journal of Multidisciplinary Research & Development (AJMRD) Volume 2, Issue 2 (February- 2020), PP 01-14
My Mermaid Research: Jalondra Davis' engaged scholar project
Virtual Assistance & Podcast Production: Hella High Magic Media
Welcome back, everyone! I'm your host, Mami Melusine, also known as Dr. Jalondra A. Davis. In this episode, I'm taking you through my transformative experience at the recent Afro Mermaid Summit in Florida and my personal journey with water.
I'll be sharing some of my experiences at the Summit, exploring the dynamics of community, safety, and the power of shared rituals. We'll delve into my complicated relationship with water, shaped by childhood experiences and the path to overcoming my fears.
We'll explore the significance of the water ceremony, a turning point in my journey, and the profound impact it had on my interactions and connections with others.
Join me as I navigate through this personal journey, and let's explore together the transformative power of water and the strength we can find within ourselves. Let's dive in!
Art, Media, and Brands Referenced:
Carrie Wata - Afro Mermaid Co.
The Afro Mermaid Summit
Gbaby Art
Mermaids Mentioned:
Blixunami
Mermaid Naje
Seashell Queen
themermaidjessa_ & sirensongssinglessons
Z Wolfie
My Mermaid Research: Jalondra Davis' engaged scholar project
Virtual Assistance & Podcast Production: Hella High Magic Media
Welcome back, merfolk! Your host Mami Melusine, known in academic circles as Dr. Jalondra A. Davis, is here with another immersive episode. Today's guest is, the phenomenal Carrie Wata, founder of the Afro Mermaid Summit. Join us as we plunge into the deep blue of Carrie's captivating journey, from her bond with water during her Florida childhood to the birth of her transformative Afro Mermaid concept—a unique blend of African spirituality, physical wellness, and environmental awareness for Black women.
We'll be swimming through the enriching experiences of the annual Afro Mermaid Summit, exploring its empowering storytelling sessions and the enchanting allure of beach activities, all designed to cultivate unity, body positivity, and self-love. As we navigate the currents, we'll uncover the significance of diverse mermaid imagery, the profound connection between Black women and water, and how this movement forges a resilient sense of community. Prepare to submerge into the intriguing depths of the Afro Mermaid universe, my delightful merfolk! Let's make some waves!
Art and Media Referenced:
Carrie Wata - Afro Mermaid Co.
Merpeople on Netflix
Mama Zogbé, Africa's Ancient God/dess Unveiled: Reclaiming the Ancient Mami Wata Vodoun History and Heritage of the African Diaspora Volumes I & II
Merpeople:
Blixunami
Mermaid Naja
Seashell Queen
My Mermaid Research: Jalondra Davis' engaged scholar project
Virtual Assistance & Podcast Production: Hella High Magic Media
Merwomanist Podcast: Show Notes
It’s MerMay! Recap - Episode 9
Hey, my beautiful merfolk! It's me, Mami Melusine, but you may also know me as Dr. Jalondra A. Davis. In this solo episode, I let you dive into my MerMay as I share my recent experiences. There's a delicate dance in being an educator and not overextending myself, and I've been learning how to strike that balance.
Fasten your seatbelts as we ride the waves of excitement when I chat about Wangechi Mutu’s Intertwined Exhibit and all the other interesting stops that I made at the different events I mentioned in episode 7! So, if you need to get caught up, take a listen!
This episode I take you on a journey from my anticipation for The Little Mermaid's live-action version, to my original grand plans of attending a premiere, and eventually sharing a matinee show with my darling little sister. I've got to say, our Ariel, Halle Bailey, didn't just swim; she soared! Her genuine portrayal of emotions and the thoughtful updates made to the original story to suit our modern times left me thoroughly impressed.
So, come along, my merfolk, as I recount my mermaid travels, the lessons I've imbibed, and the amazing people I've encountered. I'll share my thoughts on how our mermaid community is being represented in mainstream media and give you a sneak peek into my upcoming detailed review of the new Netflix documentary tv show on mermaids, Merpeople and The Little Mermaid movie.
Podcast references:
Event: Black Fae Day: 2nd Saturday in May founded by Jasmine LeFleur
Black Mermaid Day: May 26th, 2023
Event: Black Fae Day: Fairytale Gala: Royals, Austin Texas (2023)
Exhibition: Wangechi Mutu: Water Woman (2023)
Exhibit: WANGECHI MUTU: INTERTWINED Open until 6/3/23
Tv Show: Siren (2018)
Mermagicon
California Mermaid Convention
The Bubble Ball
Black Mermay Facebook Group Owner: Anita Riggs
Black MerMay Day Founder: Cosplayer, Anita Riggs Tranquil Ashes, @tranquil_ashes
California Mermaid Convention - Sacramento, 5/19 - 5/21
Mermaid Che Monique
Mermaid Naje, Seashell Queen, Clover Jene Mermaid @Cloverj_mermaid
Celebrating Black Mermaids from Africa to America at City Gallery - Charleston, South Carolina, 5/26 - 7/9
MomoCon
Exhibit: Art Mentioned from "Celebrating Black Mermaids" Exhibit: "A Portrait of Hudson the Mermaid" quilt by Donna Chambers
Chief Styles: Otunba (High Chief) Nathaniel B. Styles, Jr., The Nana Kwaku Ankibeahene II of The Ashanti Kingdom, The Otunba Fosungbade of Alayemore Ido Osun-Yoruba Kingdom WEST AFRICA-- more commonly known as “Chief Styles”
Dr. Jalondra A. Davis Mermaid Research: https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
Virtual Assistance & Podcast Production: Hella High Magic Media
Cookie’s Mermaids - Episode 8
Hey there, merfolk! Your host Mami Melusine, or as you may know me, Dr. Jalondra A. Davis, is back with a fascinating episode. This time, we're swimming through the vibrant currents of the African diaspora and diving deep into the world of black mermaids with renowned artist Torreah "Cookie" Washington.
Washington takes us on a journey through her mission to counteract oppressive narratives, celebrating the divine origins of black women through the figure of the mermaid. We explore the undercurrents of her upcoming exhibit "Celebrating Black Mermaids from Africa to America," which is set to open on the same day as the release of The Little Mermaid (2023). Her exhibit aims to provide an alternative to patriarchal storylines, emphasizing the power and worth of black womanhood.
Join us as we navigate the currents of Washington's personal and creative journey. We'll touch on the transformative power of ritual bathing, the importance of swimming, and the need to tell the rich stories of African American women beyond the narratives of slavery. So, immerse yourself in this inspiring exploration of art, heritage, and the mystical allure of mermaids.
Podcast References:
Guest: Torreah "Cookie" Washington
Announcing the opening of CELEBRATING BLACK MERMAIDS: FROM AFRICA TO AMERICA A Fine Craft Exhibition on view May 26th - July 9th, 2023 at City Gallery at Joe Riley Waterfront Park in Charleston, SC. The opening reception will be Saturday May 27th and many of the artists from around the country will be in attendance.
Celebrating Black Mermaids: from Africa to America will tell, in vibrant color and art often untold stories of resilience, courage and creativity of Black Water spirit worship and legends situating them within the framework of South Carolina, the nation and the larger African diaspora.
The City Gallery at Joe Riley Waterfront Park is less than a half mile from Gadsden’s Wharf, a major center of the Atlantic slave trade in Charleston, South Carolina.
Charleston is where nearly half of enslaved Africans brought to the North America mainland took their first steps or breathed their last breaths...
Black mermaids were said to have traveled with enslaved Africans from Yoruba, West Africa, to distant lands, comforting them in the holds of the slave ships that took them far away from their homeland in Africa, others claim Black mermaids did their best to wreck the slave ships, and some say that they returned the souls of those who passed in the water, returning them home.
Because of the rich oral traditions of these peoples, few if any of these stories were written down until they were recorded by collectors of folk tales toward the end of the 19th century. The fine artistry in Celebrating Black Mermaids: From Africa to America is griot in nature. Each piece is a storyteller, using color, texture, form and embellishment to express a narrative.”
We have scheduled several cultural events to interact with the public. From Gullah Storytelling to Coloring contests to having a live Black Mermaid on site as well as publishing a full color catalog, this exhibition is reaching the public in several ways.
Torreah "Cookie" Washington
Creator/Curator: Celebrating Black Mermaids: From Africa to America
Books Mentioned: A Communion of the Spirits: African-American Quilters, Preservers, and Their Stories - Roland L. Freeman
Stella Maris - Cormac McCarthy
Opera: I am Omar (2022)
Cookie Washington has ten copies of Henry Drewal's Mami Wata: Arts for Water Spirits in Africa and its Diaspora for sale for $150 each. This full-color volume of art and history of African water spirits usually retails for up to $2000. To obtain a copy, contact Cookie, cookiesews1960@gmail.com.
Dr. Jalondra A. Davis Mermaid Research: https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
Virtual Assistance & Podcast Production: Hella High Magic Media
Merwomanist Podcast: Show Notes
It’s MerMay! - Episode 7
Hey there, merfolk! I'm Mami Melusine, but you might know me as Dr. Jalondra A. Davis. In this episode, I invite you to join me on an unexpected adventure that took me through the bustling streets of New York and Philadelphia. I share my own tales of triumph and challenge as I juggled the relaunch of this very podcast and celebrated the publication of a feature story about my research at my university. We'll dive deep into the murky online waters where I experienced trolling and surfaced stronger, with a reinforced belief in the importance of staying true to oneself and pursuing passions, even when facing criticism.
You'll join me as we journey further into the fascinating world of mermaid narratives, exploring their power in opening up conversations about history, race, gender, and colonialism in the classroom. I'll share my belief in the value of these narratives, putting them on par with teaching classics like Shakespeare, and underscoring their deep educational worth. We'll peek ahead at exciting events on the horizon, such as Black Mermay Day and the California Mermaid Convention, and highlight the beautiful diversity in our mermaid community. So, come on in, the water's fine! Let's dive deep into the mesmerizing world of mermaids and explore their profound impact on academia and popular culture together.
Podcast references:
Movies: The Little Mermaid (2023)
Black Mermay Day: May 26th, 2023
Black Mermay Facebook Group Owner: Anita Riggs
Black MerMay Day Founder: Cosplayer, Anita Riggs Tranquil Ashes, @tranquil_ashes
Black MerMay Day Ambassador: Clover Jene Mermaid @Cloverj_mermaid
California Mermaid Convention - Sacramento, 5/19 - 5/21
Celebrating Black Mermaids from Africa to America at City Gallery - Charleston, South Carolina, 5/26 - 7/9
Music: Lemonade (2016)
MerMay Illustration Challenge Creator: Tom Bancroft
Celebrating Black Mermaids Exhibit Opening Film Screenings:
Nijla mu’min, Deluge
Zandile Ndhlovu, The Black Mermaid
Gabrielle Tesfaye, The Water Will Carry us Home
Judith Aidoo, Untitled
Exhibit: WANGECHI MUTU: INTERTWINED Open until 6/3/23
Film: Directed by Nikyatu Jusu, Nanny (2022)
Exhibit: Kenyan visual artist Wangechi Mutu's "Sirens & Serpants" exhibit, 'Nguva na Nyoka' (2014)
News feature: Black Mermaids, History, & Spirituality (2023)
California Mermaid Convention
Exhibit: Celebrating Mermaids from Africa to America
Dr. Jalondra A. Davis Mermaid Research: https://jalondradavis.com/#scholar
Virtual Assistance & Podcast Production: Hella High Magic Media
In this episode, Dr. Jalondra A. Davis, also known as Mami Melusine, delves into the mesmerizing realm of African diasporic culture, spirituality, and its intriguing connection to Beyoncé's visual masterpiece, "Lemonade." Embarking on an intellectual journey from the mystical depths of whales to the divine orishas, Mami Melusine uncovers the connections between mermaid lore, African spirituality, and Queen Bey's life and artistry.
Art and Media Referenced:
Cover Art: Still shot from "Hold Up" from Beyoncé's Lemonade (2016)
Article: "The Death and Resurrection of Oshun in Beyoncé's Lemonade: Subverting the Institutionalized Borders of Western Christian Thought in American Popular Culture”
Book: Beyonce in Formation: Remixing Black Feminism by Omise'eke Natasha Tinsley
Podcast: "The Juju Podcast" Episode: “Beyonce Took Me to the River (An Ode to Lemonade)”
Music Albums: Lemonade Beyoncé (2016)
Music Videos: "With Me" by Destiny’s Child (1998)
T-Shirt: Society of Fat Mermaids
My Mermaid Research: Jalondra Davis' engaged scholar project
Note: Halfway through this, I inexplicably started calling Anansi the Spider Asanti. I know and always have known that it is Anansi. I blame sleep deprivation.
This episode is a review and discussion of the role of Mami Wata and Anansi the Spider in the Sundance award-winning horror film, Nanny . I also discuss Wangechi Mutu's mermaid artwork and the role of African spirituality and folklore in film.
Art and Media Referenced:
Nikyatu Jusu, Nanny
Wangechi Mutu, "Killing you Softly" & "If We Live Through It, She'll Carry us Back" in Nguva na Nyoka
T-Shirt:
Society of Fat Mermaids
Lipstick:
NaChé
My Mermaid Research:
https://www.jalondradavis.com/engaged-scholar-1
Other Works Cited:
Henry Drewal, Mami Wata: Arts for Water Spirits in Africa and its Diasporas
Jalondra A. Davis, Butler's Monsters: "The Grotesque and the Black Female Body in Octavia Butler's Dawn"
Other Mentions and Shoutouts:
Myshell Tabu
Nicole Sconiers
Scam Goddess Podcast
This episode ties some of my reflections to the mermaidy aspects of the Black Panther sequel Wakanda Forever to Rivers Solomon's novel The Deep. I connect what I call the 'crossing merfolk' narrative in Solomon's novel to the film's reimagining of Atlantis through the history of conquest and colonization. I don't think I give away the end or any major twists but this discussion may contain some spoilers for Wakanda Forever.
My Research on Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Mermaids
My Review of Skin of the Sea in Los Angeles Review of Books(In this I define and discuss the crossing merfolk concept referenced in this episode)
Caveats and corrections: I forgot to address the fact that the Talokani people in Wakanda forever are not mermaids in the sense that they don't have fishtails, they have human form. This is also true of some of the stories that I study in my own work. I use the term merfolk broadly to describe humanoid or human-hybrid beings that live primarily in water. I would argue that the film intentionally references mermaid lore in relationship to Talokan through the dolphin kick motion (with feet together, mimicking a fin) that most of them use to swim, different characters calling Namor a merman or fishman, and their use of a siren-like call.
Primary Texts Mentioned:
Ryan Coogler's Black Panther and Wakanda Forever
clpping's "The Deep"
Rivers Solomon's The Deep
Drexciya's The Quest
Parliament Funkadelic's Motor Booty Affair
Sun Ra's Atlantis
Azalea Banks' Atlantis
Critical and Secondary Sources Mentioned, Referenced, or for Further Reading:
Nili Blanck,"The Mesoamerican influences behind Namor from Black Panther 'Wakanda Forever'
This American Life Feature-Afrofuturism
Nettrice Gaskins, "Deep Sea Dwellers; Drexciya and the Sonic Third Space"
Justin Burton, "Azalea Banks, Seapunk, and Atlantis: An Embattled Humanist Mixtape"
Joshua Bennet's On Being Property Myself ("The Shark" chapter)
M. Jacqui Alexander's Pedagogies of the Crossing
This episode is about race and fantasy more broadly. I use my thoughts on Episode 7 of Dance of the Dragons, "Driftwood" and the Freeform mermaid show Siren to think (and rant) out loud about race, settler colonialism, casting, and fantasy fandoms. This is a different one so hope that folks enjoy. We'll be back more to mermaids in the next one!
My Research on Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Mermaids
My Review of Skin of the Sea in Los Angeles Review of Books
Caveats and corrections: My comments on Dance of Dragons are meant only to talk about Aemond as a character and not about the actor who plays him. I know the difference between fantasy characters and real life children. The Sharma sisters on season 2 of Bridgerton are Indian-British. I identified them as Southeast Asian but I like to use the most specific descriptors of identity and nationality when known.
Terms Used:
settler colonialism: a form of colonization in which the incoming settlers seek to not only control and extract resources from a colony but displace and replace the original inhabitants of the land
Media Mentions:
Game of Thrones
Dance of Dragons
Bridgerton
Hamilton
Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1998) (There were earlier film versions of the musical)
Siren
Shoutouts:
Black Girl Nerds
Book Mentions:
Nalo Hopkinson's The New Moon's Arms
Rivers Solomon's The Deep
N.K. Jemison's The Stone Sky , Book 3 of The Broken Earth Trilogy
Natasha Bowen's Skin of the Sea
In this episode I talk about my personal mermaiding journey, the mermaid lore that inspires my mersona, and what my platform is all about.
Cover Art:
Photo by Natasha Gumbs Art
My Mermaid Research:
Link to All Publications
Article that most addresses topics in this episode (African Indigenous Religions, Mami Wata): Crossing Merfolk Narratives of the Sacred. The bibliography also has a lot of sources that you can check out!
Other Sources Referenced and Cited:
Ytasha Womack, Afrofuturism, The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture
Lesley Braun, "Tales from the Congo River: Catching Mami Wata"
Multiple Authors/Unknown, One Thousand and One Nights, or Arabian Nights
Christina Baccchilega & Marie Alohalani Brown, editors, The Penguin Book of Mermaids, "The Legend of Melusina"
Texts Mentioned:
Beyonce, Lemonade
Freeform, Siren
Nalo Hopkinson, The New Moon's Arms
Mermaid Shoutouts:
April Kalen Campbell (My pole teacher who introduced me to mermaiding)
Mermaid Che Monique
The Caribbean Pearl
Merman Maui
Carrie Wata
Indigo Siren
Other Business Shoutouts:
Conrad Cooper, Swim To Me (My swim teacher!)
This first episode introduces me, my work, and why I am starting the Merwomanist Podcast right now.
My Mermaid Research:
www.jalondradavis.com/engaged-scholar-1
Cover Art:
Mami Melusine by Salt Drift Mermaids
Creators Cited:
On Twitter:
DatWitchBitch @Darealbigfine1
@ArieTheHeretic
Mermaid Books and Media Mentioned:
Sukey and the Mermaid by Robert D. San Souci and Brian Pinkney
"No Ordinary Love" by Sade
Drexciya
Parliament Funkadelic "Motor Booty Affair"
Clipping "The Deep"
Rivers Solomon The Deep
Nalo Hopkinson The New Moon's Arms
Ellen Gallagher The Watery Ecstatic
Dive Group Mentioned:
Diving With a Purpose
Fashion:
Earrings by Iona Perris Seashell Queen