mumbojumbo

Mumbo jumbo is a phrase in English used to describe language, rituals, or activities that are nonsensical, obscure, or insincere. It is commonly used to refer to jargon, bureaucratic speech, or ritual practices perceived as mysterious or opaque. In modern usage, it often carries a dismissive or humorous tone.

Etymology is uncertain. The expression is widely said to derive from West African ritual practices observed by European travelers and missionaries in the 18th–19th centuries. Some accounts describe a masked priest or healer associated with certain communities who performed elaborate rites; explorers or missionaries allegedly used the term “Mumbo” or “Mumbo jumbo” to label the rites as exotic or deceptive. Other theories link the words to origins in Mandé languages, though there is no consensus. The phrase entered English with a figurative sense of elaborate or deceptive rhetoric, eventually narrowing to its current meaning of “nonsense” in most contexts. Some scholars caution that it reflects colonial stereotypes rather than accurate ethnography.

While widely understood, the phrase can be considered insensitive or pejorative when applied to African cultures. In careful writing, more neutral terms such as “nonsense” or “obscure ceremonial language” may be preferred.

In popular culture, “mumbo jumbo” has appeared as a phrase in titles and works, reflecting its evocative sense of mystery or excessive ritual language.