Moussa de la Mer
Moussa de la Mer is a triton – a male mermaid – who originates from a small sea located close to the Ivory Coast in West Africa, a region rich in maritime trade and cultural exchange. He is described as black‑skinned and jovial, with a warm, welcoming personality that immediately puts people at ease. He works as a trader, and his stock consists primarily of baskets and mats woven from palm leaves, beautiful, practical items that speak to the artisanal traditions of his homeland. He also maintains a small but interesting collection of sea maps, which he offers for sale. Moussa is recommended to Sawa by the local Underground – the mermaid community’s informal network – as a reliable merchant. When Sawa meets him, she purchases his entire map collection, along with a single basket, which she later uses to hold kitchen spices in her Portuguese apartment. His appearance in the story is brief but significant: he represents the far‑reaching trade routes that connect the Baltic mermaids to their African counterparts, and his maps – though few – hint at the vast, unexplored waters of the Atlantic. Moussa’s tail colour is not mentioned, but as a triton from West African waters, it could plausibly bear the vivid, sun‑drenched patterns of tropical reef fish. His role is that of a helpful, cheerful merchant who adds a touch of international colour to Sawa’s otherwise European‑focused journey.
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