St. Cross Moko Jumbia - Stockfoto

St. Croix, US Virgin Islands - December 26, 2009: This is a Moko Jumbie at The Ann E. Abramson Pier Cruise Ship Pier at Frederiksted, St Croix. Every celebration on St. Croix seems to include Moko Jumbies, so here is a little background on these colorful stilt walker. Most references place the term\'s origin from \"moko\" - an African god from the Congo and Nigeria, and \"jumbi,\" a West Indian term meaning ghost or spirit, possibly derived from the Kongo word \"zu...mbi.\" Traditionally Moko watches over his village and foresees danger and evil from his great height. \"The diviner\" was represented by men on stilts who performed acts beyond normal human ability, rising to the skies without help. Jumbies are supernatural beings for either good or evil. Never to be seen by non-believers, they purportedly reflect the islands\' African heritage and are thought to be either one\'s ancestors or one\'s connection with the spiritual or superstitious world.