Interweaving Spirituality, Cultural Hybridity and Linguistic Expression in Ishmael Scott Reed’s Mumbo Jumbo

The prominent African American writer Ishmael Scott Reed’s works are known for his satirical and Neo-HooDoo technique in presenting American politics, African people’s identity, and historical narratives. The present article examines Scott Reed’s framework of spirituality, cultural hybridity and linguistic expression in his novel Mumbo Jumbo. The study highlights African and American’s political struggles, their stubbornness in enhancing their culture in a pluralistic literary space, interconnection of myth and spirituality and linguistic expressions. Reed gives importance to spirituality through the major characters and describes how people strive to hold on to their religious beliefs. Reed also describes myth that is interconnected with the Black people’s traditions and rituals. This paper explores the effect of spirituality on cultural hybridity. Reed’s use of words, rhythm, food culture, zoomorphic language and neologism are considered as prominent in the novel. The main focus is given on the linguistic aspect through satirical diction, parody, and figurative speech

Hybridity · Linguistic landscape · Literal and figurative language · Mythology · Neologism · Politics · Spirituality · American Sports and Literature · Literary Theory and Cultural Hermeneutics · Literature: history, themes, analysis