Kumbaya (Kumbayah, Cumbiyah) is actually a word that traces way back to the ancient Hebrews when they had a lot of work ahead of them they sang this song to gain strength and to take their mind off of work. The slaves was not taught this song by missionaries one believes that the slaves was just speaking their language through song since they was not allowed to speak their original tongue they sung it and mixed it with english so the masters would not say anything.