Mojo is a term from African languages used by African American slaves for personal protection. It refers to small bags containing herbs, symbols, or prayers. Different regions have different names for it. Mojo is also associated with love and good luck, and has been referenced in music and film.
Mojo is a term that comes from many of the 450 Bantu languages of Africa. It transferred quickly into the language of African American slaves and was often applied to trinkets, charms, or small bags carried for personal protection as part of the hoodoo belief system that evolved during slavery.
Different regions may refer to mojo by different names. Those in Louisiana often called it gris-gris, derived from the Bantu word gree-gree. Island nations such as Haiti refer to wanga or oanga. A mojo could also be called a nation’s sack, jomo, mojo hand, or toby. Several other names were commonly used as well.
In its most precise definition, people might carry or wear a mojo, a small fabric bag. It could contain numerous things, such as herbs, small carved symbols or fetishes, or papers on which prayers or petitions have been written. Usually, the bag is not displayed and is hidden under the clothes.
A mojo might be specific to the type. For example, a person might wear one that would help them find love. It could protect from the curses of others or just bring good luck.
The migration of the term mojo into today’s language is mainly due to its use in 20th-century rhythm and blues songs. However, while the word still refers to a source of power, it doesn’t necessarily refer to a mojo bag. Instead, it could simply mean magic or spells.
Frequently, mojo is linked to the sexual potency of males, with females being able to wrest mojo from males. Bad mojo can simply mean bad luck or it can involve supplies of non-pure cocaine. The term is also jokingly used in song and film references. The second Austin Powers movie is about Powers’ search for his stolen mojo. Since Powers is quite obsessed with sex, he’s clearly referring to the source of male potency and dubious attraction in him.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
