The Marriage of Mariamu (1985) User Reviews

This is the perfect example of traditional healing vs. modern medicine.

[chemiche · 12 April 2000]

This is the real McCoy. The actors and the location are genuine. Though it is a short movie, its message gets across. Mariamu was traumatized by her father's death. She was around eight when she found him dead under a tree. He was a traditional healer and was out looking for the various roots and herbs of his trade, when he died. After that Mariamu developed a phobia of traditional healers. It is during the wedding ceremony, that her fear explodes. She refuses to accept her traditions and practices. Because Mariamu's father is dead, Aunt Ubani, becomes possessed by the father's spirit and plays the role that the father should have done. Mariamu appears mortified and its a downward spiral to physical illness from there. Her loving husband Sekondo, can't understand what the problem is. Over three years, he takes Mariamu to different hospitals. When there is no improvement, he finally makes a trek to see a traditional healer- the famous Simba Mbili. It is Simba Mbili who slowly and step by step gets Mariamu to revisit her past and accept her traditions. The result is Mariamu is cured. Filmed in a real African village, with real villagers as well as professional African Actors, this movie is very convincing.