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African Foodways in Louisiana

Historical period

The West and Central African foundation of Louisiana Creole cooking, carried by enslaved people: okra — the word gumbo itself comes from a West African word for okra — rice cultivation and the expertise to grow it, one-pot stews over starch, greens, black-eyed peas, groundnuts and layered seasoning. Documented transmission, distinguished throughout from later speculation.

Atlas — where and when

Communities and languages

  • African American community documented

What is recorded

  • The word gumbo derives from a West African word for okra — ki ngombo in Kikongo and related forms. Okra and Asian rice both reached Louisiana through the transatlantic slave trade, along with the agricultural expertise to grow rice. This is documented transmission, not speculation, and it is the foundation of Creole cooking rather than an influence upon it. documented

Related foodways

This foodway relates to

Recipes

No recipes are filed under this cuisine yet.