ABSTRACT
ZYDECO The term “zydeco” refers to a musical tradition started by French-speaking black Creoles in the bayou region of southwest Louisiana and is strongly associated with dance and social events. It features the accordion and rubboard (or froittoir, corrugated steel worn as a vest and scraped for rhythmic effect) as principal instruments and is traditionally sung in French. In American folklife, the music is significant as a central marker of Louisiana Creole identity and is frequently associated with joyful exuberance.
