Congo Square, Historic square in Tremé, New Orleans, US.
Congo Square is an open plaza in the Tremé neighborhood, set within Louis Armstrong Park in the northern part of the city. The space consists of paved ground with a raised stage on one side and shaded trees spreading around the central area.
The area served as an official gathering site starting in 1817, where enslaved people were allowed to meet and trade on Sundays until the practice ended around 1835. The traditions preserved there later influenced the birth of local music forms in the region.
The square takes its name from the drums and dances performed there by African communities, whose rhythms still echo in the weekly drum circles held today. Visitors often see groups performing in traditional clothing, demonstrating movements passed down through generations.
The square lies directly north of the French Quarter, reached via Rampart Street, and can be walked to within a few minutes from downtown. Performances take place regularly on Sundays, open to visitors without registration and especially active during good weather.
Local ordinances from the early 19th century designated this as the only place in the city where enslaved people could gather on Sundays. This concentration allowed continuous transmission of dances, songs, and craft techniques that would have been suppressed elsewhere.
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