2.1: Congo Plains

About this episode

This episode explores the historical significance of Congo Square as a cultural hub for enslaved Africans in New Orleans and its impact on jazz music.

Congo Square is often described as the “birthplace of jazz.” But its history goes far deeper—as a place where, every Sunday, the enslaved of New Orleans would practice traditional African music and dance. In this first episode of a trilogy, we examine Congo Square’s origins, its persistence across French and Spanish New Orleans, and how early American officials sought to regulate it. LEARN MORE: Congo Square: African Roots in New Orleans by Freddi Williams Evans Congo Square in New Orleans by Jerah Johnson “A Window on Slave Culture: Dances at Congo Square in NewOrleans, 1800-1862” by Gary A. Donaldson The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver toCongo Square by Ned Sublette City of a Million Dreams: New Orleans at 300 by JasonBerry The Accidental City: Improvising New Orleans byLawrence N. Powell “African Cultural Memory in New Orleans Music” byJason Berry “Deep Skin: Reconstructing Congo Square” by Joseph R. Roach “New Orleans Music as a Circulatory System” by Matt Sakakeeny “The Invention of a Memory: Congo Square and African Musicin Nineteenth-Century New Orleans” by Ted Widmer SOUNDS: French Quarter Bourbon walk.wav by volivieri --https://freesound.org/s/110012/…

People in this episode

Host: Steve Keller

Topics covered

• Congo Square
• jazz history
• African music
• New Orleans culture
• enslavement
• historical regulation

Keywords

• Congo Square
• jazz
• African music
• New Orleans
• enslaved culture
• historical regulation
• French and Spanish New Orleans

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Congo Square: African Roots in New Orleans, A Window on Slave Culture: Dances at Congo Square in New Orleans, 1800-1862, The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square, City of a Million Dreams: New Orleans at 300, The Accidental City: Improvising New Orleans, African Cultural Memory in New Orleans Music, Deep Skin: Reconstructing Congo Square, New Orleans Music as a Circulatory System, The Invention of a Memory: Congo Square and African Music in Nineteenth-Century New Orleans

Places: Congo Square, French Quarter

More episodes of City History: New Orleans

• 2.5: The 1832 Cholera Pandemic · April 3, 2026 · 52 min
• 2.4: The End of Congo Square · January 19, 2026 · 34 min
• 2.3: How Congo Square Survived · January 4, 2026 · 22 min
• 2.2: Congo Square · November 21, 2025 · 33 min
• 1.31: Why the Battle of New Orleans Mattered · July 7, 2025 · 34 min
• 1.30: The Goodbye Look · June 4, 2025 · 23 min