macumba

English

Etymology

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

Noun

macumba (plural macumbas)

1. 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. [from 20th c.]
   • 1988, Jorge Amado, translated by Gregory Rabassa, Captains of the Sands, Penguin, published 2013, page 79:

     And later on at the Gantóis macumba, Omolu, bedecked in red, had said that the day of vengeance for the poor would not be long in coming.

French

Noun

macumba f (plural macumbas)

1. macumba

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from Kimbundu makôba.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /maˈkũ.bɐ/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /maˈkũ.bɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /maˈkũ.ba/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /mɐˈkũ.bɐ/

Noun

macumba f (plural macumbas)

1. a percussive musical instrument of African origin often used in traditional rituals
2. any Afro-Brazilian religion, especially but not limited to Candomblé, Quimbanda, and Umbanda, so named after their use of the macumba and other African instruments
3. (Brazil, by extension) a curse or hex, a malevolent spell, especially one performed in the context of Afro-Brazilian religions

   Synonym: maldição

4. (Brazil, by extension) any spell or act of sorcery, especially one performed in the context of Afro-Brazilian religions for the benefit of someone

   Synonyms: feitiço, mandinga

5. (Brazil, by extension) offerings to the entities worshiped in those religions, often for the realization of a spell

   Synonym: despacho

Coordinate terms

• Umbanda
• Quimbanda
• Candomblé

Derived terms

• macumbeiro