The River Mumma
Every country, every culture has their own unique folk stories and lore, indeed folk tales, myths and legends are one of those rare things that transcends borders, boundaries, race, colour and creed. Folklore is truly something that spans the whole of humanity. Folklore and stories are a way of handing down knowledge from one generation to the next and no matter how fantastical or magical, there are lessons we can all take from them and apply to our everyday lives.
As you may well have guessed, folklore is a passion of mine. These stories tell us so much not only of the cultures and communities where they come from but also of humanity as a whole. They are also a way in which we can connect with parts of ourselves and our heritages we may not know so much about. I myself have Jamaican ancestry. My father moved to Britain as a child and so learning about the folklore of Jamaica has been a way for me to reconnect with that part of myself and my heritage.
One aspect of Jamaican folklore that has been intriguing to me and actually is a part of my obeah work is the duppy.
So what exactly is a duppy? In general usage, the term duppy is used to refer to any kind of spirit or other worldly being however it’s a little more complicated than that. Within obeah, the soul is said to have two parts, the good soul and the earthly soul. After death, the good soul departs to the afterlife, whereas the earthly soul stays close to the body for nine nights. If the proper funerary rites are not held, then there is a chance the earthly spirit might escape and roam the earth as a duppy. However, duppies, are not merely ghosts or spirits and are often believed to be if not totally evil, then at least harmful in some way. The River Mumma is one such spirit.
The Rio Cobre river runs through the St Catherine Parish of Jamaica, and it is here one of the oldest bridges spans this fast flowing and dangerous river. Many have died at this place, indeed the building of it cost many enslaved lives. Even today, there are many traffic accidents at this spot, and perhaps this is one reason why this stretch of water is particularly associated with the River Mumma, indeed when the waters turn green, it is said she is close by.
So, who is the River Mumma, or perhaps the real question is what is the River Mumma? Mermaids and the Caribbean seem to go hand in hand, and why not? With its tropical waters and exotic allure, surely if mermaids were to be found anywhere, it would be in the magical waters of the Caribbean. The River Mumma does indeed appear as a beautiful mermaid, however, this mermaid is not to be messed with!
The River Mumma often appears to test people, and she’ll appear sitting on a rock in the middle of the river, sunning herself and combing her silky locks with a gleaming golden comb. A sight to transfix for sure! After a while, the River Mumma takes to the water, disappearing beneath the surface but leaving the golden comb on the rock. If any person should enter the water hoping to make off with her treasured comb, then it is said she reappears to drag them down to the river bed and thus a watery death. Yet for those who pass the test and are not tempted to take the comb for themselves, for their honesty they are rewarded with good fortune.
In other stories, it is said it is best to avoid the River Mumma’s gaze and pass on by. If you do, then she’ll take you down into the water, but this time to lead you to treasure including a golden table, believed to be left from the days of piracy.
Whatever you believe about the River Mumma, there is no doubt she is a guardian spirit, a nature spirit who protects inland waters and the creatures that reside there. It is said the fish are her children, and in fact the myths and legends of Jamaica say the souls of those who drown in the Rio Cobre are transformed into fish and so no fish should be caught in those waters and whoever does will face the wrath of the River Mumma.
The River Mumma is a fierce protectress and mother, a beautiful woman but also something other, frightening, perhaps to some, even monstrous. We see these aspects of the female in other figures from legend and lore like Medusa, Babalon and more. We see them in ourselves too. Like I often say, folk stories always contain hints of truth at their core, like the single speck of grit at the centre of a pearl.
EMMA KATHRYN
Emma Kathryn, practises traditional British witchcraft, Vodou and Obeah, a mixture representing her heritage. She lives in the sticks with her family where she reads tarot, practises witchcraft and drink copious amounts of coffee.
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