than a private performance helped create gatherings of musicians in New Orleans' Congo square, where they combined French, Latin and African musical traditions to form early jazz. Ragtime, a late 19th century precursor to jazz, blended elements from minstrel-show songs, African American banjo styles, and the cakewalk with European music. In Latin America, African influence could be heard as early as the 17th century in songs called Negritos, whose lyrics mixed Spanish and African languages and whose call and response patterns and rhythmic groupings came from Africa. Other African-influenced Latin music includes bachata, batucada, cha-cha-cha, conga, funk carioca, mambo, tango, pachanga, reggaeton, rumba, samba, son, salsa, tropicalia, and zouk. In Argentina and Uruguay, African rhythms and practices influenced the development of candombe drumming and tango. Sacred music Sacred music is music with religious themes. This music remains prevalent and relevant through Christian gospel music and church hymns. During slavery in the United States, the enslaved people sang "negro spirituals" such as "Go Down Moses" as a way to ease their pain and also as a way to send coded signals to each other in resistance to slavery. The songs were sung at work in the fields as well as while worshipping. Negro spirituals during slavery brought together a community. Praising the Lord through song offered an alternative vision of empowerment and liberation to the Christianity that was imposed on them by slave masters. Gospel music emerged from the tradition of black spirituals in the early 20th century. African traditions in Black gospel singing can be heard in the call and response patterns, vocal styles and polyrhythmic clapped accompaniments. This music remains the foundation of the African American experience. Additionally, it influenced other races and cultures. "... African Americans recognized the richness of these religious folk songs and were quick to bring them to European art music practices such as those found in unaccompanied choral motets and vocal art songs." Food Another influential aspect of African culture is food, which had a global impact even before the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Since then, African traditions have had a particular impact on African-American, Southern American, Latin American, and Caribbean cuisine. African cuisine was born in East Africa, the cradle of human civilization. From there, recipes, spices and culinary techniques spread through migration and trade to Asia, Europe and indigenous cultures of the Americas. During the Transatlantic slave trade many foods accompanied enslaved people