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The Headhunter Tribe or Umbala Tribe is a group of characters from the Jungle Cruise.

History[]

Background[]

The Umbala people were an African tribe which lived along the Nile River. They were known by the Jungle Navigation Company as being headhunters due to their practice of collecting the skulls of their enemies. The Umbala were enemies of the Jungle Navigation Company, attacking their boats, skippers and passengers while also being responsible for killing several other settlers and colonists.

Development history[]

Due to the racism embedded in the characters, the headhunters were removed in a 2021 refurbishment. Similarly, the skulls belonging to them were removed throughout Adventureland and largely replaced by tribal art. The tribe scene was removed by several chimpanzees riding the boat The Mekong Maiden in Disneyland and Kwango Kate in the Magic Kingdom. The tribe still appears in Hong Kong Disneyland and in Tokyo Disneyland, however.

Appearances[]

A Pirate's Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas[]

The headhunters are prominent characters in the mission, "Heads, you lose" in this interactive Pirates of the Caribbean game at the Magic Kingdom. Taking place in the 18th century, the headhunters are shown to have a disdain for pirates considering that they killed several of them and put their skulls on display with a sign reading, "Pirates be warned!". In the game, players act as part of Jack Sparrow's crew to race with Captain Barbossa for the treasure of the pacific, a golden skull under the headhunter's possession.

The Jungle Cruise[]

The tribe appears in the Nile River section of the attraction. They are first seen in their tribe as they partake in a ceremonial dance to the sound of drummers playing music. Nearby, a canoe full of skulls can be seen which the skipper states belonged to their last tour.

After passing by this area, three headhunters disguised in leafs attack the boats with their spears only for the skipper to make an escape. Throughout the queue and load-area for the Jungle Cruise and other parts of Adventureland, skulls can be seen mounted which can be presumed to belong to victims of the Umbala.

Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries[]

In this overlay, the tribe members had the headdress of Mola Ram after it was supposedly left behind by Indiana Jones.

Jingle Cruise[]

In Disneyland's Jingle Cruise, the Umbala wore ugly-sweaters and danced to a victrola playing holiday music while their tribe was decorated with Christmas decor. The ambush was replaced by the warriors drinking holiday liquor and cheering on the passing boats in celebration of the holidays.

Jungle River Cruise[]

The tribe warriors fire blowdart in this version of the attraction.

Other Appearances[]

Film[]

Jungle Cruise[]

The Headhunter Tribe makes a form of cameo in this film, being white men in stereotypical warpaint hired by Frank Wolff as part of his charlatan Jungle Cruise. They use blow-darts to shoot at his passengers for fake thrills in his attraction. They are also partially adapted via Trader Sam's tribe the Puka Michuna, which Frank lies about being headhunting cannibals and who visually parallel the Umbala.

Trivia[]

  • One of the attacking headhunters in the Jungle Cruise shouted out, "I love disco!" during the ambush of the boat.
  • Despite being identified as headhunters, headhunting is not a practice amongst African tribes.
  • In Disneyland, one of the attacking headhunters was wearing a tribal mask made to resemble the face of Donald Duck. In Walt Disney World, a similar mask marks the entrance to the attraction.

External links[]

Gallery[]

v - e - d
Jungle Cruise Logo
Disney Parks
Jungle Cruise • Jingle Cruise • Jungle River Cruise: Curse of the Emerald Trinity • Shrunken Ned's Junior Jungle Boats • Trader Sam's • The Tropical Hideaway • Skipper Canteen
Media
Films: Jungle Cruise (soundtrack/video) • Jungle Cruise 2

Books: Tales from Adventureland: The Keymaster's Quest • Tales from Adventureland: The Golden Paw • The Making of Disney's Jungle Cruise
Video games: Walt Disney World Explorer • Kinect: Disneyland Adventures

Characters
Albert Awol • Albert Falls • Alberta Falls • Trader Sam • Shrunken Ned • Chief Nah-Mee • Garrett Reed • Nigel Greenwater • Kon Chunosuke • Felix Pechman XIII • Skip Dockmonkey • Ellie the Elephant • Tropical Toucans • Butterflies • Hornbill • Tiger • King Cobras • Crocodiles • Indian Elephants • Big Bertha • Baboons • Gorilla Raiders • Kejo the Silverback • Animals of the African Veldt • Hippos • Chimpanzee Troop • Man-Eating Piranhas • Water Buffalos • Python • Giant Frogs • Macaques • Jungle Cruise Skippers • Victoria Marie Falls • Albert Falls, Jr.

Film Characters: Frank Wolff • Lily Houghton • McGregor Houghton • Proxima • Prince Joachim • Lope de Aguirre • Nilo Nemolato • Rosita • Sancho • Melchor • Gonzalo
Crossover Characters: Indiana Jones • Captain Mary Oceaneer • Lord Henry Mystic • Rosita • Pamelia Perkins • Emil Bleehall • Tarzan • Merlin Jones • Doctor Terminus

Songs
Run Through the Jungle • Trashin' the Camp • Circle of Life
See Also
Jungle Navigation Company • Society of Explorers and Adventurers • Headhunter Tribe • Lost Safari • Jeepers Creepers • The Adventurers Club • Eurydelma • Canyon Gods • Shelly • Porto Velho • River Dolphins • Tears of the Moon • La Quila • Joachim's U-boat • Nilo's River Adventure • Jungle Expedition Skipper Training School


v - e - d
Pirates-of-the-caribbean-collection-logo
Media
Films: The Curse of the Black Pearl (video/soundtrack) • Dead Man's Chest (video/soundtrack) • At World's End (video/soundtrack) • On Stranger Tides (video/soundtrack) • Dead Men Tell No Tales (video/soundtrack)

Short Films: Tales of the Code: Wedlocked
Books: Jack Sparrow prequel novels • Pirates of the Caribbean: Legends of the Brethren Court • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Ultimate Sticker Book)
Video Games: Pirates of the Caribbean • The Legend of Jack Sparrow • Pirates of the Caribbean Online • Disney Universe • Kingdom Hearts II • Pirates of the Caribbean Multiplayer Mobile • LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End • Pirates of the Caribbean (pinball) • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest • Pirates of the Caribbean: Master of the Seas • Disney Infinity • Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode • Kingdom Hearts III • Disney Sorcerer's Arena • Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life • Disney Speedstorm

Disney Parks
New Orleans Square • Treasure Cove • Pirateland • Pirate Takeover • A Pirate's Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas • El Teatro Fandango • Jungle River Cruise: Pirate Takeover! • Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island • Pirates of the Caribbean • Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure • Shipwreck Shore • Siren's Revenge • The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow • Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold • Bilge Rat Bill's Explorer Canoes

Entertainment: Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial • Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack's Stunt Spectacular • Fantasmic! • Pirates Summer Battle "Get Wet!"
Restaurants: Blue Bayou Restaurant • Pintel & Ragetti's Grub to Grab • The Snackin’ Kraken • Tortuga Tavern • Tortuga Treats
Shops: Doubloon Market • Jolly Gypsy • Pirates League • Pirate Treasure
Fireworks: Celebrate the Magic • Disney Enchantment • Disney Movie Magic • Fantasy in the Sky • Happily Ever After • Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light • Magic, Music and Mayhem • The Magic, the Memories and You • Remember... Dreams Come True • World of Color
Halloween: Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade • Pirates of the Caribbean Ghost Trail • The Nightmare Experiment

Characters
The Curse of the Black Pearl: Jack Sparrow • Hector Barbossa • Joshamee Gibbs • Will Turner • Elizabeth Swann • James Norrington • Governor Weatherby Swann • Pintel and Ragetti • Jack the Monkey • Cotton • Marty • Murtogg and Mullroy • Theodore Groves • Anamaria • Cotton's Parrot • Gillette • Giselle • Scarlett • Bo'sun • Jacoby • Koehler • Twigg • Mallot • Grapple • Weatherby • Executioner of Port Royal

Dead Man's Chest: Davy Jones • Cutler Beckett • Ian Mercer • Tia Dalma • Kraken • Bootstrap Bill • Maccus • Clanker • Penrod • Angler • Ratlin • Koleniko • Hadras • Palifico • Ogilvey • Crash • Wyvern • Greenbeard • Jimmy Legs • Leech • Bellamy • Prison Ravens • Pelegostos Tribe
At World's End: Sao Feng • Tai Huang • Lian and Park • Steng • Eduardo Villanueva • Sri Sumbhajee • Capitaine Chevalle • Ammand the Corsair • Jocard • Mistress Ching • Captain Teague • Morey • Greitzer • Davy Jones' Locker Crabs
On Stranger Tides: Angelica • Blackbeard • Philip Swift • Syrena • Garheng • Salaman • Scrum • Derrick • Ezekiel • Gunner • Quartermaster • Cook • Marina • Mermaids • Tamara • Spaniard • King Ferdinand • King George II • John Carteret • Henry Pelham • Redcoats
Dead Men Tell No Tales: Captain Salazar • Lesaro • Henry Turner • Carina Smyth • Uncle Jack • Scarfield • Shansa • Mayor Dix • Ghost Sharks • Ghost Seagulls
Tales of the Code: Mungard • Marquis d'Avis
Attraction: Redd • Auctioneer • Pirate Captain • Captain X • Prison Dog • Tiny • Seedy Prisoners • Hook Hand Pirate • Skeleton Helmsman • Barker Bird • Beacon Joe • The Pooped Pirate • Old Bill • Shy Albert • Carlos • Fortune Red • Captain Gore • Jean Lafitte • Tom Sawyer • Carlos' Wife • Skeleton Pillager • Skeleton Pirate Captain • Treasure Skeleton • Pirate Robber • Treasure Octopus • Hungry Pirate • Scalawag • Coote • Thurl • Billie How • Taliban Pirate • Pirate Assistant • Captive Guards • Sword Skeleton Pirate • Hook Hand Skeleton Pirate • Alligators
Video Games: Black Barty • Jolly Roger
Books: Montezuma • James the Mysterious • Arabella Smith • Silver

Organizations
Crew of the Black Pearl • Cursed Crew • Crew of the Flying Dutchman • East India Trading Company • Brethren Court • Spaniard's crew • Blackbeard's Zombie Officers • Crew of the Silent Mary • Crew of the Wicked Wench
Locations
Isla Tesoro • Dead Man's Cove • Blue Bayou Lagoon • Port Royal, Jamaica • Fort Charles • Tortuga • Rumrunner's Isle • Isla de Muerta • Pelegostos • Isla Cruces • Pantano River • Singapore • Sao Feng's Bathhouse • Davy Jones' Locker • Shipwreck Cove • London, England • Spain • Whitecap Bay • Fountain of Youth • Saint Martin • Poseidon's Tomb
Ships/Boats
Wicked Wench • Black Pearl • Flying Dutchman • Queen Anne's Revenge • HMS Interceptor • HMS Dauntless • HMS Endeavor • Jolly Mon • Silent Mary • The Sailing Ship Columbia
Objects
Jack Sparrow's hat • Jack Sparrow's sword • Jack Sparrow's compass • Cursed Treasure • Treasure of Cortés • Elizabeth Swann's gold medallion • Ragetti's wooden eye • Jar of Dirt • Davy Jones' pipe organ • Key to the Dead Man's Chest • Dead Man's Chest • Mao Kun Map • Pirata Codex • Jack Sparrow's Pirate Beads • Sword of Triton • Jack Sparrow Voodoo Doll • Chalices of Cartagena • Dark Magic • Voodoo • Davy Jones and Calypso's Lockets • Trident of Poseidon
Music
"Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" • Theme park soundtrack • Soundtrack Treasures Collection • Pirates of the Caribbean and Other Villains • Swashbuckling Sea Songs • 1966 soundtrack • The Medallion Calls • He's a Pirate • Pirates Remixed • Hoist the Colours • My Jolly Sailor Bold
See Also
Pirates of the Caribbean Trading Card Game • Liar's Dice • Pirates of the Scareibbean • Swashbucklers • Calypso's Maelstrom
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