The Africans who built Louisiana’s plantations were not just laborers—they were bearers of knowledge and culture. Originating primarily from West and Central Africa, including the Wolof, Fulbe, Bambara, Mandingo, and many others, enslaved people brought expertise that was essential to the colony’s survival. Their agricultural skills laid the foundation for Louisiana’s rice and indigo industries, transforming the region’s economy. Most enslaved people in Louisiana came from Senegambia, near the Senegal and Gambia Rivers, where rice cultivation was a deeply ingrained part of their heritage. But their contributions went far beyond labor. In the kitchens and quarters of the plantations, they preserved their cultures through food, traditions, music, and storytelling. The creativity of these individuals were integral to the development of Creole culture, leaving an indelible mark on Louisiana’s history. #AmericanHistory #CreoleCulture #AfricanDiaspora #WhitneyPlantation #LouisianaHistory 📷: Bambara Woman, Fulbe Man, Mandingo Woman, Wolof Woman with Child – Esquisses Sénégalaises, David Boilat (1984). Courtesy of @smithsonian_africanart