This word is of indeterminate origin that appears in the chorus of the song "Iko Iko," a folk song originally recorded by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford in the early 1950s. It may be a transliteration of any of the following:
the Bayou
French phrase "chaque amour," meaning "all our love."
the language of Mobile Indians, from the phrase "čokəma fehna" which meant "very
good."
the Bambara (
West African) phrase "Jakamo Fi
Na Ye," meaning "The Black Cat is here."
the word "Jacouman," the
name of a Yoruba spirit - this interpretation may be supported by other references to Yoruba/Voodoo/Hoodoo within the song.