Etymology

macumba

ma·cum·ba
M3A1C3U1M3B3A1

Today it means: A type of Afro-Brazilian folk religion combining elements of Roman Catholicism with traditional African religious beliefs and practices; or a specific cult or ceremony of such religion. Full definition →

First used 20th c.Portuguese macumba ← Kimbundu makôba
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The story

  1. Kimbundumakôba
  2. Portuguesemacumba
  3. English todaymacumba

Borrowed from Portuguese macumba (“macumba; curse”), derived from Kimbundu makôba (or a related Bantu language of western Central Africa).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 20th c. A type of Afro-Brazilian folk religion combining elements of Roman Catholicism with traditional African religious beliefs and practices; or a specific cult or ceremony of such religion.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.