#3511: DeGraff on the linguistics of "mambo" and of "Mambo Sans Bout..."....Grey replies

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From:Racine125@aol.com

<< From my own research on the origin of the name Manbo, I believe that it 
comes 
 from two words:
 Man for Manman in Haiti, Man being often said for mother in Africa.
 and 
 Gbo which means "active magical force" in the Fon language spoken mainly in 
 Togo and Benin. >>

Actually, my information indicates that the word "mambo" originates from 
KiKongo, and means "to sing" or "to chant".  Thus a Mambo is a singing or 
chanting woman, a woman who is singing invocations, by extension.  That is 
also why the word has come to indicate a musical form in a different cultural 
context.

Peace and love,

Bon Mambo Racine Sans Bout Sa Te La Daginen

"Se bon ki ra", 
     Good is rare - Haitian Proverb

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