Mama Lola: An Analysis In the ethnographic story Mama Lola, by Karen McCarthy Brown, the method of vodou is revealed as a great healing process and one that is great for the mind, body and soul. It is the story of many different people that come into contact with vodou and how their lives are lived with the spirits of this way of life. It is a series of events in which some are true and some are not. The author, Karen, studies the ways of vodou through the life of Alourdes Macena. She is a vodou priestess (manbo) and one who helps to heal and ease pain of any that come to her for help. She is a healer of many and uses these ways of healing