A Mardi Gras Indian Celebration!

HAA’s Folklife + Civic Engagement program and Houston Museum of African American Culture present A Mardi Gras Indian Celebration!

Folk Arts Fellowship grantee and master artist Terrence Gasper and his apprentices, Keith Green, Elisha Barnes, and Jaylon Warner, have been working together to study the fine points of Mardi Gras Indian tradition for the last nine months. They will do a short talk/demonstration.

The Mardi Gras Indian tradition is unique to New Orleans but Terrence brought it with him when he fled the city after Hurricane Katrina. His apprentices are also native New Orleanians. Terrence serves as the Big Chief of the White Eagle tribe and he is training his apprentices in its traditions.

Mardi Gras Indians organize in tribes and don elaborately beaded costumes for processions and parades during Mardi Gras and an event called Super Sunday (the closest Sunday to the feast day of St. Thomas). They have special chants and dances that are passed on to new members of the tribe. When scores of tribes gather and brass bands hit the streets to help them celebrate, it is an unparalleled spectacle.

At 7pm, after the talk/demonstration, there will be a second line party with the Hustlers Brass Band.

Join Terrence and his hosts, HMAAC, for a preview of Mardi Gras. After all, it’s just around the corner.