Origin of Zydeco

Akira Johnson Dr. Harris Engl 2017 23 April 2026 Origin of Zydeco Zydeco, like every other genre of music in America, got its start in black spaces. Zydeco is made up of French accordion music, Caribbean rhythms, and African American blues and spirituals. The location start of zydeco is along southern Louisiana, found in black communities and black creole communities as well. The word ‘zydeco’ comes from the creole phrase, “les haricots sont pas sale”, which represents hardship. Zydeco has perceived in black spaces and communities, its genre of music important during get togethers, community halls, and even festivals. These spaces allowed musicians to have a platform and support to continue their music careers. While zydeco has continued to evolve, it’s still closely tied to creole and black Louisiana community/spaces. The first artist of the creole genre is Amede Ardoin, a black man from Evangeline Parish, a descendant of both free and enslaved people. Amede was to some, a rockstar in his time. His life was cut short due to racism, where dangerous acts were committed against him. He performed at a dance and was in need of wiping his face. A white woman in the crowd gave him her rag out of her purse. White men at the dance saw they and promised he would never perform again. After the dance, they followed him out, beat him, and rolled over his neck with a Model A Ford. Ardoin was not dead and lived his last few months in Pineville at the state hospital with severe brain injuries. Amede Ardoin died lonely, lost, and unable to connect. Through his bravery and legacy, we now have a genre of music that still holds power and significance to the black community but has become over ran with white supremacy. In “what anti blackness has to do with it?”, we read how intersectionality creates powerless experiences and doubt within oneself. In this piece, it hits beauty standards and self-hatred seen in black communities. An excerpt from the text, ““Every conversation about Black speech is a conversation about Black intelligence and ultimately Black humanity” (p. 1). The question that I want you to keep in mind as you read this chapter is: What is the relationship between anti Black racism and Black Language?” Within the zydeco community and genre, we see the same pickings that are seen in country music spaces. African Americans start and pave the way, but it’s the white voice and face that predominantly white audiences want to see. When looking into black artists, I was shocked and ashamed of what I found. Popular songs that are played at events I attend to this day have become popularized through a white voice, or creole voice in some cases. But the origin and meaning still remains in black spaces. While this is very common, especially in rock and country, it’s something I never thought about for zydeco. Known examples in other genres include Big Mama Thornton and Elvis, most famously being “hound dog”. Within zydeco, an example of this comes with the song “Uncle Bud.” The original singer is Boozoo Chavis, but the known singer is Horace Trahan. Another example is “Jambalaya” by Clifton Chenier, although the known recording is by Hank Williams, who happens to be a country singer. When choosing artist for my mixtape, it was important to include old and new. Artists who helped set the foundation as well as modern artists. The title of the mixtape is “Black Zydeco Pioneers.” The mixtape is made of four pages, and on page one I focus on Amede Ardoin, and his style. I chose three of his songs, ‘le midland two step’ is one of his most popular songs recorded. Ending the page is Clifton Chenier, and he starts our second page. His songs are age appropriate and still used today in schools. I learned his song “jambalaya” for a fourth-grade program. Moving on, we have buckwheat Zydeco, Boozoo Chavis, and Chris Ardoin. These artists have and show more liberty within their works. There is more freedom, and more words in their songs. Amede Ardoin only spoke creole and had more beats to his music. Moving onto page three, we see bands. Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band as well as Boozoo Chavis and the Magic Sounds are two very popular zydeco groups. On the last page, listed that hasn’t been mentioned yet is Geno Delafose and Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers. Along with different elements of zydeco artists, I thought it would be fitting to mention or portray artists that didn’t make it to the mixtape. Along the top of the mixtape pages, there are artists that did and didn’t make it into the mixtape. Along with finding black zydeco, it’s important to know what that looks like. In front of the individual song, there are aesthetic black photos. Works Cited: McNamara, Dave. “Amede Ardoin - Music and Tragedy.” The Heart of Louisiana, 31 May 2023, heartoflouisiana.com/amede-ardoin/. Zydeco Music in Louisiana - History and Where to Hear It, www.explorelouisiana.com/articles/zydeco-music-louisiana. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026. What’s anti-blackness got to do with it? – April Baker Bell AllMusic is being updated.: Music Search, recommendations, videos and reviews. AllMusic. (n.d.). https://www.allmusic.com/style/zydeco-ma0000002943