Mumbo Jumbo as a detective novel
The book Mumbo Jumbo presents itself as a detective novel, with Papa LaBas being the detective in this case. LaBas is a a Haïtian priest, and throughout the novel, he acts as an investigator who tries to find the Sacred Text of Jes Grew in order to bolster its strength. And yet, while in many ways it shares characteristics with many detective novels, it also differs greatly. This difference is in large part caused by reeds blending of cultures, ideas, and reality with fiction. For one, rather than being a purely logical or 'real' chain of events, the mystery is mixed in with African and African American cultural elements such as folklore, jazz, and voodoo, that serve to not only enrich the narrative but also provide Reed's own cultural commentary. By mixing in these cultural threads to the story, Reed transcends the boundaries of typical detective novels, transforming it into a vibrant text that reflects the intricacies of African American ...