Laissez les bon temps rouler! Let the good times roll.

 

Alligators, swamps, fiddles, accordions, bayous,

jambalaya, crawfish pie, file gumbo - The lyrics are often in French, the instrumentation with triangles, rubboards, and accordion is hardly a ready made formula for widespread acceptance, recordings aren't exactly easy to get hold of, it's not on the radio too often, and yet it's become immensely popular here in the UK. What is Cajun? What is Zydeco?

 

The word Cajun is a term applied to the people of a particular area of S.W. Louisiana. Their ancestors left France in the 17th century to settle in an area of Canada then known as Acadie, which became Nova Scotia and New Brunswick when the British took over in 1710. The Acadians were deported from their homeland in 1755 by the British Crown when they refused to swear allegiance, and renounce their Catholic faith. Many families were separated and more than a quarter of the 12,000 exiles perished in this sad episode in British colonial history. After 1765 many Acadians arrived in Louisiana where they struggled to recreate their society in the inhospitable swamps and bayous of their new home. For the next 200 years they lived in relative isolation in this harsh landscape and their distinctive culture developed away from the mainstream of American influence until well into the 20th century.

 

Cajun and Zydeco are regional musics which flourish in Louisiana despite the efforts of the U.S.A. to homogenise all its cultures into one seamless whole. It's a blend of German, Spanish, Scottish, Irish, Anglo American, Afro Caribbean and American Indian influences with a base of French folk tradition. It's a music born of hardship and oppression and is joyous and uplifting despite the sadness of its lyrics. Whilst Cajun music is played by the white French people of Louisiana, Zydeco is the music of the black French speaking population. Though similar in some respects, Zydeco has a heavier helping of Afro Caribbean rhythm and more of a taste of the blues. Zydeco tends to be more rocking and funkier than Cajun and is more likely to have English lyrics.

Both musics are essentially for dancing and having a good time. In Louisiana and here in the UK there are dances that go with the music and some people like to learn the moves at workshops. This however is by no means essential and most musicians are happy as long as people dance to their music. It's not compulsory to dance in any particular way to this music - Just get up and find a groove and let the good times roll!