[Ads-l] mojo, jomo (1923)

[Ben Zimmer]

We've previously discussed "mojo" ('magical charm') and its reversed form
"jomo." OED3 has "mojo" from 1926 and mentions "jomo" in the etymology --
Stephen Goranson found an example of the latter from 1925:

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2010-July/100787.html

As I mention in my Wall St. Journal column this week (https://bit.ly/mojobz),
both forms can be antedated to 1923, thanks to Newspapers.com. The cite for
"jomo" is slightly earlier, though as we discussed before, "mojo" is likely
the original form.

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https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24238460/jomo/
Anniston (Alabama) Star, Jan. 27, 1923, p. 1, col. 2
"Jo-mo," shouted Lucille Drakes, negro woman, as the rent man approached
her cabin.
"Jo-mo, jo-mo," she repeated, rubbing a bundle of herbs reposing on her
bounteous bosom.
But the rent man paid no heed. He didn't even hesitate.
Forward -- like the light brigade -- he advanced and demanded his rent.
Lucile continued to should "jo-mo, jo-mo," and to massage the herbs under
her dress; but the man didn't hypnotize -- for he even threatened to put
her out in the street if she didn't pay.
So Lucille paid -- and had "Dr." Matthew Taylor, negro voodoo specialist
arrested because of the failure of his prescription to relieve her of the
pain of paying rent. [...]
First Lucille testified, telling how she paid the "doctor" $8 for a bundle
of "jo-mo herbs" -- positively guaranteed to hypnotize the rent man and
make him forget to ask payment. All you need to do is to place the herbs
beneath your dress, wait 'till the rent man approaches, then rub the herbs
and shout "jo-mo" three times.
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https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24187727/mojo_bag/
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Oct. 24, 1923, p. 28, col. 5
William Gassway, 49 years old, a negro, was freed today when Circuit Judge
Grimm held that he had not committed grand larceny when he sold to John
Rogers, another negro, a Mojo bag for $85 on July 26.
The Mojo bag was guaranteed to be a charm strong enough to soften the heart
of John's wife, Amelia, who had fled to Wisconsin after renouncing her
husband. John took it to Wisconsin and said, "Amelia, come back home."
Despite the Mojo bag, Amelia shouted "No!" John testified today. The Judge
sustained a demurrer by counsel for Gassway, who contended that he had been
wrongfully charged. Selling Rogers a bag with a lump of coal in it was a
business transaction of questionable nature possibly, but not grand
larceny, it was held.
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