Kumina, n. Jamaican.
Brit. /kʊˈmiːnə/, U.S. /kuˈminə/, Jamaican /ˈkʊmina/
Forms: 19– Cumina, 19– Cummina, 19– Cummona, 19– Kumina, 19– Kumona, 19– Kumuna; Also with lower-case initial.
[‹ Jamaican Creole cummina < Kimbundu kumina to swallow, kumona to see, referring to the physical manifestations of possession (by spirits).]
A religious ceremony performed in parts of Jamaica and ultimately of central African origin which features drumming, singing, and dancing, and at which participants are believed to become possessed by spirits. Also: the style of music performed at such a ceremony.
| 1943 in F. G. Cassidy & R. B. Le Page Dict. Jamaican Eng. (1967) 267/1 Cummina, a cult performance at night. 1953 J. G. Moore Relig. Jamaican Negroes 126 Hot, said of drums at Cumina ceremony when the fast rim beat indicates the presence of zombies in the drum. 1972 Times 7 Aug. (Jamaica Suppl.) p. ii./4 She has recorded Kumina music, ring games and Pocomania meetings. 1995K. Bilby in P. Manuel et al. Caribbean Currents vii. 161 Before packing up, the drummers explain that the music they play is called kumina. 2002 Sunday Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 26 May f1/4 There are practitioners of Kumina in Jamaica who are able to speak, sing and pray in the original African language. |