In West Africa, wealthy women enjoy wearing colorful clothing made of “genuine African” textiles. However, since the early twentieth century, this coveted cloth has been designed and manufactured not in Africa, but in the Netherlands by a company called Vlisco. Local market women who sell the Vlisco cloth have become extraordinarily rich; they can afford to be driven around in a Mercedes Benz, and have thus come to be known as “Mama Benz.”

This film details the interplay between a young ambitious European, Henk Bremer, from the Vlisco company, and an equally ambitious African market woman, Alice Gouba, as they jockey for advantage to market the cloth in a new territory. It shows their differences in business attitudes as they struggle for dominance and ultimately realize their mutual dependence. Vlisco has for years pursued the strategy of divide and rule, while the Mamas know their power lies in unification, and Alice is treading a tightrope between the two factions. Mama Benz and the Taste of Money is subtle and witty film about the evolving global marketplace.

"Beautifully depicted. . . Recommended for those libraries with strong anthropology collections and/or international business collections.''
‒Booklist

Margaret Mead Film Festival, 2002