" Kum ba yah " ("Come by here") is an African-American spiritual of disputed origin, known to have been sung in the Gullah culture of the islands off South Carolina and Georgia, with ties to …

The meaning of KUMBAYA is characterized by or exhibiting a belief in harmony between people and in their essential goodness. How to use kumbaya in a sentence.

Sep 5, 2024 · “Kumbaya” is often referred to as an African folk song. But its most likely origin story actually begins with Black Americans.

Apr 12, 2025 · By the 1990s, ‘Kumbaya’ was a joke, sung as a punchline in The Addams Family Values ‘ summer camp by the sadistically bubbly camp leaders. So what does ‘Kumbaya’ …

Nov 20, 2025 · “Kumbaya” (in slang) means unrealistic or naïve peace talk, fake unity, or shallow positivity that does not solve real problems. It’s often used in sentences that reject or mock …

Nov 13, 2025 · What Does “Kumbaya” Actually Mean? Let’s start with the basics: “Kumbaya” means “Come by here.” Specifically, it’s a rendering of the English phrase “come by here” in …

Mar 1, 2018 · What does kumbaya mean? Rooted in an American spiritual and folk song of the same name, kumbaya refers, often disparagingly, to moments of or efforts at harmony and unity.

Feb 6, 2018 · In honor of African American History Month, we thought we’d present a classic article from Folklife Center News. This one concerns the early history of the African American …

Jul 16, 2025 · kumbaya Used to evoke spiritual unity and interpersonal harmony, with varying degrees of sincerity or sarcasm, as referring to the folk song. quotations

Definition of 'kumbaya' kumbaya in British English (ˌkʊmbaɪˈjɑː ) adjective mainly US derogatory