Zydeco and cajun town names originate from the Ishak Language

[Choupique]

In New Orleans, both Africans and Indians could be seen on Sundays in Congo
Square, the Sacred Ground. The singing, drumming, dancing, and story-telling
of west African traditions melded nicely with their counterparts in Indian
traditions. Congo Square was the only place in America where slaves were
allowed to congregate on their own and do as they pleased. Out of these
gatherings, the heritage of western Africans and Gulf Shore Indians became
the roots of the blues, jazz, swing, r & b, country, rock n" roll, soul,
funk, rap, and hip hop that entertain Americans even today.

One notable by-product of this cultural confluence emerged in southwest
Louisiana, original home of the Atakapa Tribe. A lively social dance, the
dance of the youths, consisted of heavy rhythms and sensual dancing. The
Atakapa word for "dance" is "shi" (rhymes with "sky") and their word for
"the youths" is "ishol." Spaniards in 1528 were the first Europeans to
contact the Atakapa, and they translated "shi ishol" as "zy ikol." Four
hundred years later, the mixed-blood descendants of Atakapas and Africans
would still do the synchronized swaying to the raucous music, but with a
slightly evolved name: Zydeco

more information can be viewed at the Carencro High School Web site

http://www.carencrohighschool.org/la_studies/ParishSeries/FrenchMusic/ZydecoEtymology.htm

There might also be a link in Native American culture in Louisiana. Hubert
Daniel Singleton, who has extensively researched the Attakapas Indian
language and culture, claims that zydeco is a corruption of an Attakapas
phrase.

Singleton says that group singing and dancing were an important part of the
Attakapas culture, and that "at least once a week, painted to their best,
they gathered for the social."

According to Singleton, "The dance could be of a religious nature, as was
the Dance to Otsitat (Dance to the One Who Stands Above). That was the
Attakapas' most solemn social, and it featured prayers led by the local
chief with his arms and gaze on high. ... Another social was the Dance of
the Old People. The historical Attakapas called it pum wash washi. It was a
serious affair at which only the old people danced. ... A third social, one
that we know with certainty to have been held monthly, was the Dance of the
Young People. The Attakapas called it shi ishol. Unlike the (other) socials,
it was a good-time dance enjoyed by all and eagerly anticipated by all each
month."

According to Singleton, when the Spanish came to Louisiana in the 1690s,
they changed the pronunciation of shi ishol to zy ikol. Then, "when the
French first succeeded the Spaniards in Louisiana, they altered zy ikol to
zy d'kol, and from that form today's ... zydeco derives."

At any rate, according to Tisserand, "Today, 'zydeco' is accepted as the
name of the music as well as of the event at which it is played, and it is
also used to describe what people do when they get there

***********

Historical Ishaks were called Atakapas, a Choctaw slur, by the Spaniards and
then by the French in Louisiana which gave the Ishak people an ugly
reputation, rumor of which continues through today.

The heritage of the Atakapa is rich and diversified and one of which to
be proud. There is much in our lives today that point to the prehistoric
Atakapa. Tasso and oyster pie were food products of their inventing.
Zydeco, the good time dance is their gift to our country. Relics of Atakapa
names include Anacoco, Calcasieu, Carencro, Lacassine, Mamou, Mermentau,
Opelousas, Teche and others. The most beautiful and pleasing, is the
language which has been translated into the English grammar for the
Christmas Carol Silent Night, Holy Night and other works by linguist, Hugh
Singleton

more can be read here:

http://www.beau.lib.la.us/~velmer/atakapa/

Choupique

born and raised in the swamps .... bound to family through waters of the
Bayou Teche

[Kikers]

Always heard "zydeco" was a string bean (haricot). Anyway, what are some of
the town names derived from Ishak?

--
-Aaron Kiker
-Spring, Texas
"Choupique" <choup...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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[Choupique]

The initial post mentions Mamou among a few other names, from what i recall
years back you held interest in how that town's name was derived.

Another not mentioned of uniqueness is Nezipique, la Tortue ,i.e Turtle was
a Ishak leader of Nezpique territory, Nezpique Praries are homelands of the
Sunrise People

The Carencro high school page in the initial post notes the string bean;
original language outweighs speculation from song and story in most
instances.

the Beauregard Library Link has an email link for more Ishak Language
information Hugh Singleton

Regards,

Choupique

"Kikers" <aki...@charter.net> wrote in message
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