In a recent piece for Vanguard News, author Fada Oluoma reflected on the persistence of supernatural beliefs in the digital age, using the myth of the “mammy water” mermaid as a focal point.
Oluoma opens with the chant “Mammy water power, powerless power,” a song he recalls from childhood that was meant to ward off the creature. He notes that while the legend of a half‑human, half‑fish being has long existed, the advent of mobile and smart phones has altered how such myths are perceived and propagated.
“Phones are getting smarter, humans are getting dumber, what an inverse proportionality!”
The article argues that as phones gain capabilities—such as creating realistic images of unseen beings—users increasingly rely on them to confirm or spread tales of mermaids, miracles and other supernatural claims. Oluoma points out that many people who fall prey to fraud or manipulation in the name of the supernatural do so because smartphones make it easier to encounter charlatans and sensational videos.
He concludes with a cautionary note: “When it comes to religion or the spiritual, don’t believe more than you should. If you are a Catholic, what you should believe is clearly stated.” The piece underscores the need for critical thinking in an era where technology can both illuminate and obscure the line between fact and folklore.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
