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malombo, n.

DRAFT ENTRY Sept. 2010

S. Afr.

Brit. /mlmb/, U.S. /mlmbo/, S. Afr. /mlmb/, /mlmb/  Forms: 19- malombo, 19- molombo. [< Venda malombo, lit. ‘spirit’. Sense 2 is after the name of the group Malombo who pioneered this style of music in the mid 1960s.] 

    1. A Venda rite of exorcism and healing conducted by a diviner, accompanied by drumming, singing, and dancing, which causes a high state of nervous excitement. Usu. attrib.
  The drums used in this rite are now also used in the popular music style of the same name: see sense 2.

1931 H. A. STAYT BaVenda 303 He..summons a drummer who knows the molombo beat. When the maine vha tshele begins to sing the words of the molombo song and to dance wildly to the sound of the drums..each old molombo dancer takes her part. 1964 Drum Nov. 35 The malombo drums send out their jungle-like sound. 1985 S. Afr. Panorama May in Dict. S. Afr. Eng. (at cited word), South African participants discussed subjects such as..the Malombo Possession Cult.

    2. A style of music combining elements of the music performed in traditional malombo ceremonies, esp. the drums and drumming style, with elements taken from jazz and African popular music.

1964 Drum Nov. 35 On the blistering hot afternoon of September 26, a new jazz sound was born in the Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg. It is simply called ‘Malombo!’ There has been..what is loosely termed ‘Mbaqanga’, or pop jazz. But the Malombo sound is unique. It is hard to pinpoint. 1971 Post (Durban) 6 June 21 The Malombo duo of Philip Tabane and drummer Gabriel Thobejane will be hitting the United States of America soon. Real groovy malombo music the fans will get from these two 1988 Pace Apr. 16 Godfather icon of malombo music..(which is an in-depth investigation into indigenous jazz).

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