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Kiwi Life

Language

24 June 2023

9:00 AM

24 June 2023

9:00 AM

A Speccie reader has asked me for the origin of the expression ‘mumbo jumbo’ – and there turns out to be an interesting story behind this. It seems that ‘mumbo jumbo’ comes from a West African language called mandingo or mandika (there are variant spellings). ‘Mumbo jumbo’ was first recorded in English as long ago as 1738 – during the beginning of European colonisation of Africa.

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