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Humba Wumba is a Native American shaman who made her debut in the Banjo-Kazooie series in Banjo-Tooie. She introduced herself as Mumbo Jumbo's rival, taking up his previous role in Banjo-Kazooie as the shaman who transformed Banjo (and Kazooie eventually), while Mumbo performed a more active role by using his powerful spells around the world so Banjo and Kazooie could complete puzzles. During the ending cutscene, when she is seen playing kickball with Gruntilda's skull, she decides to bury the hatchet and declare a truce with Mumbo.

Games[]

Banjo-Kazooie[]

Humba Wumba is one of the few characters in the series who made an Easter egg appearance prior to their in-game debuts. While Humba Wumba herself does not appear in the first game, her name gets mentioned as an incorrect answer to one of the questions Gruntilda asks Banjo in Grunty's Furnace Fun.

Banjo-Tooie[]

Humba Wumba would reside in her wigwam in Banjo-Tooie, until the duo needed her magic. Humba's magic required a Glowbo to work, a magical creature Banjo and Kazooie would find around the world and bring to Humba Wumba. They would then throw it into a pool of water in the middle of the wigwam, and jump in to transform. Once the spell was completed, a Glowbo was no longer required for further transformations. If Mumbo ever came into the wigwam, she would tell him to get out.

These are her transformation spells:

  • Isle o' Hags - Dragon Kazooie, Kazooie is now a dragon and she can do a flamethrower attack which causes enemies to run away. This transformation requires a Mega-Glowbo instead of a regular Glowbo. You also get infinite Fire Eggs.
  • Mayahem Temple - Stony (a little stone statue), which can shoulder-barge, enter Kickball games, and understand the Stonies' language.
  • Glitter Gulch Mine - Detonator, which can self-destruct (causing damage to himself) and detonate TNT barrels.
  • Witchyworld - Money Van, which is invincible. It can honk a horn which opens a special door and pay for some rides.
  • Jolly Roger's Lagoon - Submarine, which can shoot torpedoes, release sonar blasts and withstand high pressure.
  • Terrydactyland - Baby/Daddy T-rex. The Baby T-Rex is much smaller than and is not as feared as Daddy T-rex. The transformation depends on the size of Humba's wigwam. They both roar (although Baby T-rex has to learn it).
  • Grunty Industries - Washing machine. It appeared as a joke in Banjo-Kazooie. He can shoot underwear, enter mechanical-personnel only areas, use the service elevator, and wash clothes. He can also resistant to damaging terrain. However, because of the factory's guidelines, he is not allowed to use the warp pads.
  • Hailfire Peaks - Snowball. It starts off as a small snowball with low health, gaining health by rolling in the snow and growing bigger and heavier. It can then launch itself to hurt enemies and solve puzzles. At the maximum snowball size, it cannot go through many small doors including the door to Wumba's Wigwam. Use the fire next to the wigwam to shrink the size of the snowball. If you go on the Fire side, you will rapidly lose health and explode.
  • Cloud Cuckooland - Bee. Returning from Banjo-Kazooie, it flies enormous heights, and can now also shoot stingers.

Beta[]

DSC06639

Picture of a beta version of Humba Wumba from issue #134 of Nintendo Power.

In a beta screenshot for Banjo-Tooie in Nintendo Power Volume 134, Humba Wumba is seen wearing a red dress. The Mumbo Token symbol can be seen in the bottom right side of the screenshot, implying that Humba Wumba was at one time going to accept Mumbo Tokens instead of Glowbos. The picture can be seen in the Worker's Quarters in Grunty Industries with the Mumbo Token and Character speech icon missing.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts[]

Humba Wumba appears in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. Due to the lack of a need for transformations, her new role is selling pre-made vehicle blueprints and vehicle parts to Banjo. She also frequently appears in the different worlds to give challenges to Banjo. She appears in Nutty Acres, LOGBOX 720, Terrarium of Terror and Spiral Mountain.

Showdown Town[]

Humba appears in the Town Square to sell vehicle blueprints and parts. She has a red feather on her head and wears a red plaid shirt with yellow shorts held by a black belt, and yellow rubber boots. She says she needs money for the magic recession fund and sometimes reminds Banjo that she will not turn him into a T-Rex.

Nutty Acres[]

Humba acts as Mumbo's wife in this world. She is one of the only hard-working persons at the farm and always has to pick up the other's slack. She wears her normal clothes but with a straw hat, gloves and green rubber boots. She hosts challenges in Acts 2, 5, and 6. First, she needs Banjo to push the flaming boulders into water so the air is not polluted. Then she warns of Mr. Patch's imminent return and asks you to deflate him. In the last act, she needs you to carry a load of coconuts to Mumbo and get them approved for shipping and then to the docks.

LOGBOX 720[]

Humba acts as a member of an all-girl gamer tribe. She wears a sleek black outfit and a green visor. She is always challenging Banjo to races and sees if he can beat her tribe. She is very competitive but is gracious in defeat. She appears in Acts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. She first wants Banjo to race some other workers to a race. Then she wants to race him herself in her plane. Later, she needs Banjo to test a race course where the checkpoints are raised in the air (this was because Klungo messed up the CPU). Lastly, she holds another race against some others workers.

Terrarium of Terror[]

Humba appears as a conservationist who is trying to save the flora in the terrarium from extinction. She wears a pink, floral pattern top and beige shorts. She is very passionate about her job and gets angry whenever the flowers are in danger. She appears in Acts 1, 2, 3 and 4. First, she needs Banjo to drive her ecologically friendly vehicle up to a vantage point to observe the flower. Then she wants you to push some trash from the 1980s out of the airlock. Later on, she wants you to defeat a gang of Gruntbots who have invaded the terrarium.

L.O.G.'s Lost Challenges[]

She plays the Feisty Femme Fatale that once tried out for the Colosseum, but didn't quite make it. Her challenge is riding a horse and having to jump hurdles and dodge cardboard stand-ins of Pedestrians.

Spiral Mountain[]

She appeared at Banjo's House in the end of the game to congratulate Banjo and Kazooie on winning the game and getting to stay in Spiral Mountain. 

Voice[]

In Banjo-Tooie, Humba is voiced by Eveline Fischer, who had previously voiced Tooty and Brentilda in Banjo-Kazooie. In Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts however, Humba is instead voiced by Elissa Miller[1].

Gallery[]

Quotes[]

Banjo-Tooie[]

First time:

  • Humba: Big heap welcome to little bear and bird.
  • Banjo: I'm Banjo and my feathered friend is Kazooie.
  • Humba: Me Humba Wumba, best magic person on island.
  • Kazooie: We heard that Mumbo was the best...
  • Humba: Not true. Mumbo amateur. Wumba best. You bring Glowbo magic creatures here!

If Banjo has caught a Glowbo:

  • You have Glowbo. Want to give to Humba?
  • [if Banjo catches the Mega-Glowbo] Me much surprised. You have the legendary Mega-Glowbo! Want to give to Humba?

Yes:

  • Banjo: Sure. I'll just throw it in.
  • Humba: Magic ready. Jump in Wumba pool.

Transformations:

  • Wumba call this Stony. Use control stick to move and press B for big heap barge attack.
  • [after being transformed for the first time] Jump back in Wumba pool when want to be bear and bird again.
  • Wumba call this Detonator. Use control stick to move and press B for self-destruct attack.
  • Wumba call this Van. Van carries much coins. Use control stick to move and press B for horn.
  • Wumba call this Submarine. Use control stick to turn on spot and press A for much speed. Press B for sonic ping attack, or L or R for torpedo attack.
  • Wumba call this Baby T-Rex. Use control stick to move.
  • Wumba call this Daddy T-Rex. Use control stick to move and B to make much noise.
  • Wumba call this Washer. Use control stick to move and press L or R to fire plenty underwear.
  • Wumba call this Snowball. Use control stick to move and hold B for big roll attack.
  • Wumba call this Bee. Press A to jump and A again when in air to fly. Use control stick to steer and press A to fly higher. Also press L or R for stinger attack.

Transformation, with the Mega-Glowbo:

  • Humba: Wumba call this Dragon.
  • Banjo: But what's changed...?
  • Humba: Kazooie now big heap dragon. Burn many baddies!

Ending:

  • Big heap bummer.
  • Shut up! Or Wumba turn stupid shaman into a frog...
  • Mumbo right, big heap fun!

Misc.:

  • Humba magic not work if go through there. Only bear and bird can leave. (If the player tries to leave the world while Banjo is transformed)
  • Mumbo not welcome. Leave now or be in big heap trouble! (If the player enters her wigwam as Mumbo Jumbo)
  • Mumbo get out of pool. (If the player jumps in the magic pool as Mumbo Jumbo)

Trivia[]

  • When Mumbo Jumbo enters her wigwam, Humba Wumba continually nags him and eventually threatens him to get out. Humba will also threaten Mumbo if he jumps into the transformation pool.
    • Also, from Glitter Gulch Mine, a Warp Pad is in Humba's Wigwam, but when controlling Mumbo, Jamjars says he is not welcome there. Despite this, he is able to enter it through the main entrance.
  • Ironically, despite the rivalry between the two shamans, Wumba's Wigwam and Mumbo's Skull are connected to one another in Hailfire Peaks. A damaged wall that can be blown open with a Grenade Egg in Mumbo's Skull will lead him to a secret passage behind the tarp in Wumba's Wigwam.
  • Humba Wumba is one of the few human characters in the series.
  • Her appearance changed drastically between Banjo-Tooie and Nuts & Bolts, more so than any other character. This may have been a change by Rare to make her seem much less like the stereotypical Indian and more like a modern First Nations person.
  • A portrait of her in a purple dress appears in Grunty Industries in the Workers' Quarters, though it is different from the Nintendo Power screenshot. (See gallery)
  • In Grunty's Furnace Fun from the original Banjo-Kazooie, if Mumbo Jumbo's voice is played during a sound question, one of the options will be "Humba Wumba the Shaman."
  • In Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, Humba wears a pair of shorts that resembles Banjo's.

Names in Other Languages[]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese フンバ・ウンバ Humba Umba
Spanish Humba Wumba Humba Wumba


References[]

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