Hi,
You are right � both Paella and Jambalaya are very similar. It is believed that the word Jambalaya comes from the Spanish word Jamon (ham), the French phrase � la (in the style of), and ya ya (West African word for rice)! Since Jambalaya is so similar to Spanish Paella, I believe its origin most likely began in Spain. Both dishes contain seafood (selection varies due to local availability) and sometimes meat (ham, chicken, sausage), bell peppers, onion, tomato, garlic, and of course rice. The seasonings are different, with Jambalaya being piquant (spicy-hot).
