Etymology

mumbo jumbo

Today it means: A deity or other supernatural being said to have been worshipped by certain West African peoples; an idol. Full definition →

Mandinka maamajomboo
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The story

  1. Mandinka · borrowed frommaamajomboo“mask; masked dancer”
  2. English todaymumbo jumbo

Probably from Mandinka maamajomboo (“mask; masked dancer”); or perhaps from /l/-vocalization in the words mumble and jumble.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.