Official Notice
Official Notice from The Mami Wata Healers Society Temple of Mawu:
Miawezolo!
The Mami Wata Healers Society Temple of Mawu acknowledges the life, legacy, service and victory of Chief Hounon Amengansie Mama Sagbé Vivian Ovetta Hunter-Hindrew (Mama Zogbé).
She transitioned to be with the ancestors on January 7th, 2022. We took her to Africa for burial rites on February 5th. We started her ceremonies February 11th and completed them April 27th, 2022.
April 2025 marks three years since the conclusion of her ceremonies. The first ceremony was done three months in Africa. When she was called by her ancestors to take the road, she did so without any hesitation and was buried on her ancestral lands. Mama Zogbé opened and continues to open the doors for the children to come and visit the homelands of Africa and put their feet on the ground. She worked as a priest in Africa and America and her spirit is still alive, ready to work with everyone and bless everyone. Now, it is the time to show everyone we continue. She is with us everyday. Everyone, trust to Mama Zogbé, trust the ancestors and follow her paths. Every message Mama wrote to the world, trust it and respect it. Now is the time for us to continue Mama's journey. We are here to help you.
If you would like to protect your business, life, relationship and have success, we are here for you.
We are here for you in prayer and in consultation. We will continue to do what Mama Zogbé has begun and we will follow the roads with dedication, knowing that we are guided by the spirits every step of the way. Akpeloo!
Mama Zodede and the Mami Wata Healers Society Temple of Mawu
Above: Chief Hounon Amengansie Mama Sagbe in custom regalia. Martinez, Georgia.
American Obituary
Vivian Ovetta Gartley (Vivian Hunter-Hindrew), a.k.a. Chief Sagbe, passed away at the age of 66 on January 7, 2022 in Martinez, GA. Born July 24, 1955 in Chicago, Il, she is the eldest daughter of 4 children born to Elnora Logan Hunter and Robert Gartley, both of whom, along with her elder brothers, preceded her in death.
She attended Jefferson Elementary School in Chicago, Ill. In 1969, her family moved to Compton, California where she attended Whaley Junior High and Dominquez High School. In 1973, Chief Sagbe enlisted in the U.S. Army, under the old WAC (Women’s Army Corps). While enlisted, she worked as an Operating Room Tech and Emergency Triage. It was in 1976, during her enlistment at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts where she met and married her husband , Rodney Hindrew. In 1981, they gave birth to their first and only child, Jarrett.
Chief Sagbe continued her education by attending Chaminade University, in Honolulu, Hawaii. There she obtained her BGS. Throughout the course of her studies, Chief Sagbe attended various programs of extracurricular studies at the University of Hawaii, Würzburg University in (then West Germany), concluding with a summer intensive at the Université de Caen, in France. Later, she obtained her M.Ed in Community Counseling at Augusta State University, in Augusta, Georgia.
Chief Sagbe was employed in various government jobs including International Logistics, journalists, special project writing the “After Action Report” during Operation Desert Storm, to VEEP (Veteran’s Employment Educational Program) Counselor; Procurement Officer (Augusta State University Library); Upward Bound Counselor (Paine College); Drug and Alcohol Counselor (Aiken, South Carolina).
However, it was after searching for more than 20 years for someone who understood the spiritual nature of her suffering and destiny, in 1987, during a conference at San Francisco State University, she received a powerful healing ceremony by Master Chief Akuete Durchbach. Chief Durchbach was a visiting chief priest from Togo, West Africa. This powerful, healing event dramatically changed the destiny of Chief Sagbe’s life. It was through “Papa” Akuete that Sagbe learned the ancestral nature of her suffering, and over a span of 25 years of formal traditional ceremony and travel to West Africa, Chief Sagbe set out to discover the ancestral source within her family lineage of who bequeathed her destiny to acquire the ancestral Zekpui (stool) of Mami Wata, Mama Tchamba, Jihossou, Dan etc.,. She is the first African-American to install the great shrine of the Amengansie, a path bequeathed to her from her maternal great-great grandmother.
Chief Sagbe has traveled countless times to Togo, West Africa, and to more than a dozen countries, and have worked feverishly to answer her ancestral calling, by reestablishing the ancestral traditions of Africa here in North America for the Diaspora and to heal, unite and service the family and the world. She firmly believes that it is within these ancient ancestral systems where one could find the history, culture, spiritual direction and personal destiny of oneself and family.
In 1999 Chief Sagbe founded the Mami Wata Healers Society of North America Inc.. an ancestral, religious non-profit organization whose objective is to educate, initiate and guide the Diaspora back to their spiritual ancestral roots. Later, she would expand the society’s objective to include spiritual services and initiation to the world.
It was her MWHS organization who challenged the Library of Congress to change the pejorative classification of African religions, (formerly classified under “Satanism and witchcraft) to “African Spirituality”, and African Religion respectively. It was also her organization who challenged and had included in the U.S. Veteran Administration manual of headstone markers, the African “Nyame” ancient symbol for God, so that those who have taken the path of their ancestors would have a respected symbol lending dignity to their Ancestral Spiritual path.
The author of six books that have become cult classics within the Indigenous Spiritual communities, Mama Sagbé is the first African-American to establish the temples of the grand Vodou deities here in America. She is the first to have also rebuilt the ancestral temple in Klobatimé, Togo, West Africa; bringing all of her ancestors back home. Mama Sagbé was inducted into the worldwide, Oborigine Ogboni Fraternity Society of the Grand Royal Ancestral Vodoun Agbassa of Afiwa Negue (Awono Grand Chief, Mama Zodede); her maternal, biological Togolese cousin in Lome, Togo. Mama Sagbé is also the first African-American inducted as a recognized Traditional Lineage Priest in the esteemed F.N.C.V.T.T [Fèdération Nationale des Cultes Vaudous et des Traditions du Togo].
Mama Sagbé is proceeded in death by her dear mother, Elnora Logan Hunter, her father Robert Gartley Sr., her brothers Robert Gartley Jr., & Earl Gartley. To celebrate her home-going to the Ancestors, is her husband, Rodney Hindrew, her son, Jarrett E. Hindrew, her wonderful daughter-in-law, Katie Roach Hindrew, Her elder sister, Connie White. Her younger sister, Mary Larry. Her baby brother, Patrice Gartley. Her adoring grandsons Jackson and Cooper Hindrew. Her nephews, Larry Adams, Carlos Adams, Metro Gartley Jr., Darryl Gartley. Her nieces, Patricia Ann Gartley, Amber Gartley, Jasmine Gartley. Her grandniece Leeandra Gartley and a host of other grandnieces, nephews, cousins and godchildren.
She requests that in lieu of flowers, that anyone wanting to make a contribution can purchase food and/or clothing and donate to the Mami Wata Healers Society Suraka Charity Fund for the Dispossessed and Homeless, managed by Mama Chief Zodede. Or they can simply make a commitment to offer some help to the homeless in the name of their ancestors, throughout the course of their lives.
*(phonetically known as “Zogbe” in the West) “Sagbe” (meaning “No matter how deep the ocean, your enemies can never defeat you”), is the spiritual name given to her by her maternal ancestors upon completing her Amengansie ceremonies in Togo, West Africa (1999).
African Reception
En mémoire de notre très chère et regrettée
Remerciements et Annonces
Hounongan Amegansi Negue Dassivi Tronsihoin
Les Familles: ADEGANSI- SITOWOAYO-DJIKPO de Vogan prefecture de Vo Togo
Sa Majeste Royal OBA NEGUE Alex Fraternite du Grand Royaume de la Religion Traditionnelle Originelle Eji-Ogbe (FGRRTO-EJIOGBE) Togo et USA- Mami Wata Healers Society. Akpe Kaka!
Version Anglais
Remerciements et Annonces
Acknowledgments and Announcements
Hounongan Amengansie Mama Zodede, presiding officiant.
The Families who graciously, carefully and respectfully received Mama Zogbé in preparation for her funerary rites and ceremonies are listed here: 1.ADEGANSI 2. SITOWOAYO 3.DJIKPO de Vogan prefecture of Vo Togo 4. His Royal Majesty OBA NEGUE Alex (presiding officiant) of the Brotherhood of the Great Kingdom of the Original Traditional Religion Eji-Ogbe (FGRRTO-EJIOGBE) Togo and the Mami Wata Healers Society of North America. The African Traditional ways of preparing a family member for burial were honored and upheld properly for Chief Mama Sagbe.
In the United States, Chief Mama Sagbe had a celebration of life that was shared privately amongst family and godchildren of the Mami Wata Healers Society of North America. As per African Tradition and Culture, her official ceremonies were completed in Africa by Chief Hounon Amengansie Mama Zodede, Kabiessi Alex Kokou Negue, at the Brotherhood of the Great Kingdom of the Original Traditional Vodoun Religion (Ejiogbe). In Africa, society members, high chiefs, organizations, local, state and national officials, clergy (of different religions and traditions), historians as well as pilgrimagers alike traveled to the Village of Mama Zodede to inquire, participate and send their regards to Mama Sagbe and her families, stateside and overseas.
Mama Sagbe's Petatrotro will commence and continue as a healing tradition of The Mami Wata Healers Society Temple of Mawu. Updates will be provided once available on the Society's official general announcements page.
Above: Chief Hounon Amengansie Mama Sagbe in custom regalia. Martinez, Georgia.
Chief Hounon Amengansie Mama Sagbe, left. Successor, Chief Hounon Amengansie Mama Zodede, right. Nana Chief Bonsofo N'Sougan, center.
Version Française
En mémoire de notre très chère et regrettée
Vivian Ovetta Gartley, alias Chef Sagbé, Vivian Ovetta Gartley (Vivian Hunter-Hindrew), alias Chef Sagbe, est décédée à l'âge de 66 ans le 7 janvier 2022 à Martinez, en Géorgie. Née le 24 juillet 1955 à Chicago, dans l'Illinois, elle était l'aînée d'une famille de quatre enfants, nés d'Elnora Logan Hunter et de Robert Gartley, tous deux décédés avant elle, ainsi que de son frères aîné.
Elle a fréquenté l'école primaire Jefferson à Chicago, dans l'Illinois. En 1969, sa famille a déménagé à Compton, en Californie, où elle a fréquenté le collège Whaley et le lycée Dominquez. En 1973, Chef Sagbe s'est engagée dans l'armée américaine, au sein de l'ancien WAC (Women's Army Corps). Durant son engagement, elle a travaillé comme technicienne de bloc opératoire et au triage des urgences. C'est en 1976, lors de son engagement à Fort Devens, dans le Massachusetts, qu'elle rencontre et épouse Rodney Hindrew. En 1981, ils donnent naissance à leur premier et unique enfant, Jarrett.
Le chef Sagbe poursuit ses études à l'Université Chaminade, à Honolulu, à Hawaï, où elle obtient son baccalauréat en sciences infirmières. Tout au long de ses études, le chef Sagbe suit divers programmes d'études extrascolaires à l'Université d'Hawaï et à l'Université de Würzburg (alors en Allemagne de l'Ouest), concluant par un stage intensif d'été à l'Université de Caen, en France. Plus tard, elle obtient un master en éducation en conseil communautaire à l'Université d'État d'Augusta, en Géorgie.
Le chef Sagbe occupe divers postes au sein du gouvernement, notamment dans la logistique internationale, le journalisme, la rédaction d'un projet spécial (rapport d'après-action) pendant l'opération Tempête du désert, ainsi que comme conseillère au Programme d'éducation à l'emploi des anciens combattants (VEEP), chargée des achats (bibliothèque de l'Université d'État d'Augusta), conseillère en orientation (Paine College) et Conseillère en toxicomanie et alcoolisme (Aiken, Caroline du Sud).
Cependant, après avoir cherché pendant plus de 20 ans quelqu'un qui comprenne la nature spirituelle de sa souffrance et de son destin, en 1987, lors d'une conférence à l'Université d'État de San Francisco, elle a bénéficié d'une puissante cérémonie de guérison par le Maître-Chef Akuete Durchbach. Le Chef Durchbach était un grand prêtre de passage venu du Togo, en Afrique de l'Ouest. Cet événement puissant et apaisant a radicalement changé le destin de la Chef Sagbe. C'est grâce à « Papa » Akuete que Sagbe a découvert la nature ancestrale de sa souffrance. Au cours de 25 ans de cérémonies traditionnelles officielles et de voyages en Afrique de l'Ouest, la Chef Sagbe a entrepris de découvrir la source ancestrale au sein de sa lignée familiale, celle qui lui a légué le Zekpui (tabouret) ancestral de Mami Wata, Mama Tchamba, Jihossou, Dan, etc. Elle est la première Afro-Américaine à avoir installé le grand sanctuaire de l'Amengansie, un chemin hérité de son arrière-arrière-grand-mère maternelle.
La cheffe Sagbe a voyagé à maintes reprises au Togo, en Afrique de l'Ouest et dans plus d'une douzaine de pays. Elle a travaillé avec acharnement pour répondre à sa vocation ancestrale, en rétablissant les traditions ancestrales africaines ici en Amérique du Nord pour la diaspora et pour guérir, unir et servir la famille et le monde. Elle est convaincue que c'est au sein de ces anciens systèmes ancestraux que l'on peut trouver l'histoire, la culture, l'orientation spirituelle et la destinée personnelle de soi et de sa famille.
En 1999, la cheffe Sagbe a fondé la Mami Wata Healers Society of North America Inc., une organisation ancestrale religieuse à but non lucratif dont l'objectif est d'éduquer, d'initier et de guider la diaspora vers ses racines spirituelles ancestrales. Plus tard, elle a élargi l'objectif de la société pour y inclure des services spirituels et l'initiation au monde.
C'est son organisation, la MWHS, qui a interpellé la Bibliothèque du Congrès afin de modifier la classification péjorative des religions africaines (anciennement classées sous « satanisme et sorcellerie ») en « spiritualité africaine » et « religion africaine » respectivement. C'est également son organisation qui a contesté et fait inclure dans le manuel des stèles funéraires de l'Administration des anciens combattants des États-Unis le symbole africain ancien de Dieu, le « Nyame », afin que ceux qui ont suivi la voie de leurs ancêtres puissent bénéficier d'un symbole respecté conférant de la dignité à leur chemin spirituel ancestral.
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Autrice de six ouvrages devenus cultes au sein des communautés spirituelles autochtones, Mama Sagbě est la première Afro-Américaine à avoir fondé les temples des grandes divinités vaudou ici, en Amérique. Elle est également la première à avoir reconstruit le temple ancestral de Klobatimé, au Togo, en Afrique de l'Ouest, ramenant ainsi tous ses ancêtres chez eux. Mama Sagbě a été intronisée au sein de la Fraternité Oborigine Ogboni du Grand Royal Ancestral Vodoun Agbassa d'Afiwa Negue. (Grand Chef Awono, Mama Zodede) ; sa cousine maternelle et biologique togolaise à Lomé, au Togo. Mama Sagbě est également la première Afro-Américaine à être intronisée prêtre de lignée traditionnelle au sein de la prestigieuse F.N.C.V.T.T [Fédération Nationale des Cultes Vaudous et des Traditions du Togo].
Mama Sagbé laisse dans le deuil sa chère mère, Elnora Logan Hunter, son père Robert Gartley Sr., ses frères Robert Gartley Jr. et Earl Gartley.
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