Lovecraft Country: Who Is Mama Oya? The African Goddess’ Mythology Explained

In Jordan Peele’s Lovecraft Country season 1, episode 3, “Holy Ghost,” Letitia Dandridge (Jurnee Smollett) calls upon the African Goddess known as Mama Oya, a prominent figure in African culture. After purchasing a Victorian home for her sister and members of the Black community, she discovers that a malevolent entity resides within its walls. In order to expel his spirit from the premises, she successfully hones the power of Mama Oya, but who is she exactly?

While mythology differs between various cultures and locations, almost every belief that mentions the Goddess Oya regards her as one of the most powerful. In African culture, she represents strength, justice, and femininity. In Lovecraft Country, Leti embodies everything that the Goddess symbolizes. As the sci-fi horror series has progressed, Leti continues to grow as a social and political activist as well as a force to be reckoned with when faced with racists and white supremacists. Mama Oya guards the realm between life and death, commonly known as purgatory.

When Leti died and came back to life in season 1, episode 2, “Whitey’s On The Moon”, she may have spent a moment in limbo with Mama Oya. After being brought back to life, Leti explains to Atticus in “Holy Ghost” that nothing has felt truly the same. While her ties to the realm of the living and the dead may assist her in becoming a powerful beacon between the two, it is brief encounter with the in-between that ties her to the Goddess Oya.

The African Goddess Oya’s Mythology

At her core, the African Goddess stands for justice and feminine strength. In season 1, episode 3, “Holy Ghost,” Letitia represents the exact same. The house is haunted by Dr. Hiram Epstein, who conducted gruesome experiments on eight missing Black people from the South Side of Chicago. When everything is left up to Leti, she calls upon the African Goddess to assist her and the spirits of his victims in expelling him from the property, possibly showcasing her new powers. In this moment, not only does Lovecraft Country utilize Leti’s determination for social justice to frame the scene, they ground it with Mama Oya’s guardianship of purgatory.

She is known as the bringer of change and only speaking the truth. In African mythology, people are cautioned against invoking or provoking her due to the intensity of her power. When considering the mythological aspects of the African Goddess, it is clear that the entirety of “Holy Ghost” is meant to frame Letitia as the physical manifestation of Mama Oya. When threatened, she brings a storm just like the Goddess is known for. Despite their similarities, according to myth, Goddess Oya protects women and nurtures women in leadership positions. It may be that Leti symbolizes Mama Oya, but she is also impacted by the African Goddess’ drive to protect and assist Black women.

Lovecraft Country may delve further into the connection that Leti has to the African Goddess due to the incredible similarities the two share but for now, it seems that the Sons of Adam may have made a reappearance. Regardless, the series will continue to feature the independent, powerful, and justice-driven Leti. Every episode of the sci-fi horror series Lovecraft Country intertwines historically significant symbols, people, and events in Black history. In “Holy Ghost”, the African Goddess Mama Oya was rightfully given the spotlight.

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