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.