River Mumma
River Mumma is one of Jamaica’s most enduring folk figures—a mystical mermaid said to guard the island’s rivers and freshwater pools. With long, flowing hair and a shimmering fish tail, she is often seen sitting on a rock, combing her locks with a golden comb. Said to protect the waters and their secrets, River Mumma appears and disappears without warning, luring the curious with beauty and mystery. Her story blends African spiritual traditions with Caribbean folklore, reminding us that nature, history, and spirit are deeply intertwined.
River Mumma an di Golden Table (Patois / English)
Mi always hear mi granny sey, “Nuh play near di river after di sun go down, or River Mumma will call yuh name.” As a yute growing up inna di country, mi did always curious, but mi did respect di old stories—till one evening mi and mi cousin Delroy decide fi go catch crayfish down a di riverbank.
Di sun did just a dip behind di hill, painting di sky orange and purple. Di water was cool, and mi coulda hear frog and cricket a sing. Delroy, always braver dan sense, seh, “Mi bet mi can swim out farther dan yuh!” Before mi could answer, him dive in, sending ripples cross di water.
Mi wade out, calling after him, when mi notice di river get real quiet. No bird, no frog, just silence. Then mi see her: River Mumma, sitting pon a big stone inna di middle a di stream. Har hair long and black, shining like oil, and she a comb it wid a gold comb. Di water around her glow soft, and mi see a golden table slowly rising from di riverbed, shining bright like di sun.
Mi freeze, mi heart a pound. Delroy, him see har too, and him start back up, but him foot slip and him drop inna di water. Di River Mumma look up, har eyes deep like di river bottom. She sing out, her voice sweet but sad, “A who disturb mi rest?”
Mi memba mi granny words: “If yuh see River Mumma, nuh look in har eye, and never try tek anything from di river.” Mi grab Delroy and whisper, “Don’t look back!” We scramble outta di water, mud and all, and run straight home, never once turning round.
From dat day, mi never go near di river at dusk again. Some say if yuh greedy and try fi tek River Mumma gold, yuh disappear forever. But mi know, sometimes it just tek one glimpse fi remind yuh fi respect di old ways.
English Translation
▶ShowRiver Mumma and The Golden Table
I always heard my grandmother warn, “Don’t play near the river after sundown, or River Mumma will call your name.” Growing up in rural Jamaica, I was always curious, but I respected the old stories—until one evening, my cousin Delroy and I decided to go catch crayfish by the riverbank.
The sun was just dipping behind the hill, painting the sky orange and purple. The water felt cool, and I could hear frogs and crickets singing. Delroy, always braver than wise, said, “I bet I can swim out farther than you!” Before I could answer, he dove in, sending ripples across the water.
I waded out, calling after him, when I noticed the river had gone completely quiet. No birds, no frogs—just silence. Then I saw her: River Mumma, sitting on a big stone in the middle of the stream. Her hair was long and black, shining like oil, and she was combing it with a golden comb. The water around her glowed softly, and I saw a golden table slowly rising from the riverbed, shining as bright as the sun.
I froze, my heart pounding. Delroy saw her too, and he started backing up, but his foot slipped and he fell into the water. River Mumma looked up, her eyes deep as the bottom of the river. She sang out, her voice sweet but sad, “Who disturbs my rest?”
I remembered my grandmother’s words: “If you see River Mumma, don’t look into her eyes, and never try to take anything from the river.” I grabbed Delroy and whispered, “Don’t look back!” We scrambled out of the water, covered in mud, and ran straight home without turning around once.
From that day, I never went near the river at dusk again. Some say if you’re greedy and try to take River Mumma’s gold, you disappear forever. But I know sometimes it only takes one glimpse to remind you to respect the old ways.
