Form of Creole dance music from southern Louisiana, U.S., with roots in 19th-century French (see Cajun ), African, and Caribbean styles.
The name is thought to come from a creolized pronunciation of the French phrase les haricots ("the beans"), heard in a popular song. The music usually features guitar, accordion, and washboard played to a driving beat. It became widely popular in the 1980s through the performances of Clifton Chenier, Queen Ida, Buckwheat Zydeco, Boozoo Chavis, Beau Jocque, and others.