Congo Square

Congo Square is an open space within Louis Armstrong Park, which is located in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, just across Rampart Street north of the French Quarter. The Tremé neighborhood is famous for its history of African American music. In Louisiana's French and Spanish colonial era of the 18th century, slaves were commonly allowed Sundays off from their work. They were allowed to gather in the "Place des Nègres", "Place Publique", later "Circus Square" or informally "Place Congo" at the "back of town" (across Rampart Street from the French Quarter), where the slaves would set up a market, sing, dance, and play music.

[@monikanereamouanza4992]

I'm congolese and watching this breaks my heart. It's indirectly, linked to my story...

[@NeLLaGoodFeLLa]

Im also from Kongo sister its directly linked. Our brothers and sisters were brought there specifically

[@storyvilledistrict]

People don't realize this place was the launchpad for American popular music.

[@nonekacastille2962]

Beautiful black people!! I loove this shit learning more abt my people
-dwanjenate castille

[@alspeace]

The line "living currency" sent that chill through me once again.

[@michaeldean9338]

Pretty poignant.

[@johnsomn2148]

This is a section of Ken Burns - American music --Jazz

[@jazzandbeyond7549]

When the narrator says the Caribbean he's talking about Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, etc. including Mexico. I wish they would have said that!

[@writerrad]

Yes especially when you realize the public toleration of the African and African new world dances were a product of the years Spain ruled Louisiana, from 1763 onto just before Napoleon sold it. Calenda or Kalinda in different forms persists across Mexico, the islands, Haiti, Louisiana and also especially Trinidad and Martinique

[@morefhya]

Dominican rep too

[@slambk]

This is. Not true, the originated from Africa, yes...this music is derived from Rhumba in the Ba Kongo regions....same as Kizomba , Tango =Tanga, Salasa all of that even Drill music. This is pure Black folks inspiration and it's KONGO SQUARE , thanks for sharing this anyway

[@NeLLaGoodFeLLa]

Im from Kongo brother,whats not true?

[@slambk]

@@NeLLaGoodFeLLa which language do u speak

[@NeLLaGoodFeLLa]

@@slambk Lingala and you?

[@slambk]

@@NeLLaGoodFeLLa ....beside that language...what's ur mother tongue

[@slambk]

@@NeLLaGoodFeLLa just to help you...the language u r calling lingala is actually a mixture of two language. BOBANGI AND KI KONGO....sadly the school didn't taught us that.

[@NruhariDasGGS]

This very blues scale is purely African. For those who do not know, the blues scale is originated from YANZI Tribe in the Bandundu Province of the Democratic Republic of CONGO where I was born. From early age, I studied music and played Sxophone before moving to the USA. I was kin to publish a book about the Origin of the Blues but, it didn't happen for several raisons...The singing heard in the beginning of this narration is absolutely the traditional way the YANZI People sing ...

[@timbellow530]

I really love this channel
504tim

[@benbenassi2348]

Why was it named Congo Square? What was the link with Congo?

[@marcstakenburg5021]

First it was called Place de negres, French for Negroes Square. Later it was called Congo Square out of political correctness. Congo was the country many African Americans originated from.

[@Afrometa]

We always called it Kongo square within our community, we didn't refer to ourselves as negros ... The name Kongo Square was later accepted by the mainstream after yrs of activist protesting to have it changed. It's called Kongo Square because the bulk of our ancestors come from the Kingdom of KONGO which included Angola.

[@slambk]

It's called that referral to Ba Kongo ethic group..who were taken to slavery...but the C instead of K, was French way. Thanks

[@NeLLaGoodFeLLa]

@@slambk yess we spell Kongo with the k not C,the belgians changed that

[@professorpuddle]

online school music class be like ^^^

[@eri_berri]

...

[@omalone1169]

​@@eri_berri2:20 song?

[@timbellow530]

What song is playing on the opening? Amazing

[@fractuss]

I don't know the song but there was a tradition of fife and drum music. ua-cam.com/video/m6mRdPP6wRo/v-deo.html

[@omalone1169]

What is it called

[@DrhonofHoliness]

What’s the name of the last song

[@OSNLebuna]

Hey did you find out the name of the last song

[@ahershey76]

Where is this documentary from?

[@erreeneese9256]

Viajero?

[@lilniko21]

Where did you find the interviews?

[@distractedification]

This is from Ken Burns History of Jazz

[@omalone1169]

​@@distractedificationmuch appreciated