Calling a girl 'mama', what does that mean?

I've known this guy a couple of months and we have only seen each other at our leisure centre. I am interested in him though I don't know if he knows this, and he has checked me out and paid me compliment. The other day as we were leaving he said 'bye mama'- what does mama mean?

He is black by the way.
Calling a girl 'mama', what does that mean?
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