noun
shambo
Shambo (noun) means a style of Namibian music made by the Ovambo people, blending traditional rhythms with reggae influence. Example: “The radio station played shambo late into the night, mixing local rhythms with reggae basslines.”
noun
1
A style of Namibian music made by the Ovambo people, blending traditional rhythms with reggae influence.
"They describe their sound as a fuse of Afro-pop, hip-hop, house music and ragga dancehall. “Because of our cultural inclination, we incorporate shambo elements in our music to spice things up,” says Khasi."
— Michael Kayunde, Pushing Urban Shambo (2018)
"Other musical forms include kwasa kwasa (a kind of rumba), kwiku, ndombolo, oviritje, Damara panchi, and shambo."
— Anene Ejikeme, Culture and Customs of Namibia (2011)
"Ngatu also composes his own shambo songs on the album Biggest Gift, and he brings his own mixed musical traditions into his work."
— Simon Broughton, The Rough Guide to World Music: Africa & Middle East (2006)
"The radio station played shambo late into the night, mixing local rhythms with reggae basslines."
name
1
A surname of French origin.
"She traced her family name, Shambo, back to a small village in France."
How to use shambo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a Namibian reggae-influenced music style, or a French-derived surname.
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Word forms
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The radio station played _____ late into the night, mixing local rhythms with reggae basslines.
Etymology
A shortened form of the French surname Archambault, with the first syllable dropped over time.
Rhymes for shambo
See all rhymes for shambo →Frequently asked questions
What does “shambo” mean?
The word “shambo” means a style of Namibian music made by the Ovambo people, blending traditional rhythms with reggae influence. In plain terms, either a Namibian reggae-influenced music style, or a French-derived surname.
How do you use “shambo” in a sentence?
Here is “shambo” used in a sentence: “The radio station played shambo late into the night, mixing local rhythms with reggae basslines.”
What part of speech is “shambo”?
Depending on how it is used, “shambo” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “shambo” come from?
The word “shambo” comes from French. A shortened form of the French surname Archambault, with the first syllable dropped over time.
How many meanings does “shambo” have?
“Shambo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a style of Namibian music made by the Ovambo people, blending traditional rhythms with reggae influence.
