River Mumma is a mermaid appearing in Jamaican legend. While the modern depiction of mermaids shows them as more peaceful creatures, River Mumma is more similar to the Sirens in Greek mythology in that she puts those who go near her into a trance before luring them to their deaths.
Biography[]
River Mumma is a mermaid who inhabits all the rivers of Jamaica, and all the fish are her children. She can often be seen sitting at the riverside, combing her long black hair. If a person sees River Mumma, they will likely fall into a trance and walk towards her, at which point she will grab them by the heel and drag them to a watery grave.
According to some legends, River Mumma is the guardian of a golden table that was thrown into the river by Spanish conquistadors when they arrived in Jamaica. On hot days at noon the table will sometimes rise from the water and hover there. If anybody tries to steal it, it will sink to the bottom of the river. The would-be thief will often drown after grabbing onto it.
Despite the trouble that River Mumma causes, she cannot be driven out by the people because of her relationship with the fish. If a person tries to catch her, then all the fish in the river will leave and the river itself may dry up.
In some stories, River Mumma only allows those with good intentions to cross her river, while those with bad intentions turn back or drown in the water.
