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macumba

macumba

9.9
A Brazilian dance music style with lively rhythms from African traditions
  • noun
  • /məˈkʌmbə/
translation icon : macumba
  • Last night, we danced to vibrant macumba music at the local festival.

Examples

  • The energetic macumba tunes filled the air, making everyone want to dance.

  • She loves how macumba combines traditional rhythms with modern beats.

  • In an hour you meet us at Macumba Grove.

Synonyms

conga
vsmacumba
2 5.9

Lively Latin music with a strong beat for dancing

is Brazilian and comes from religious cult practices not Afro-Cuban dance origins
cumbia
vsmacumba
2 6.5

A lively Colombian music and dance with a strong beat

is Brazilian and connected to cult religion rather than Colombian national dance
pachanga
vsmacumba
1 8.8

Lively Cuban dance music with a fast, happy beat

is tied to religious cult origins rather than a secular party music genre
carioca
vsmacumba
9.9

Lively Brazilian dance music with fast beats

has roots in a religious cult rather than originating only as dance music

Surface Forms

macumba singular
macumbas plural

Etymology

Macumba comes from an African word like makumba, meaning 'magic' or 'ritual'. Because those religious ceremonies used strong music and dance, the name also came to mean a lively Brazilian music style that grew from those rituals.