Untitled Document (original) (raw)

The Black Mardi Gras Indian tradition emerged as a celebration practiced by African Americans who drew on Amerindian and West African motifs and music to create a folk ritual and street theater unique to New Orleans. The Egungun of the Yoruba culture of western Nigeria seems to be closest in ancestry to the Mardi Gras Indians. The Egungun, like the Mardi Gras Indians tradition, is a socio-religious and highly respected organization. It is bedecked with colorful, elaborate costumes, and is performed on the streets. Both organizations are male dominated institutions that serve as a vehicle for the expression of cultural values. The music, verbal art, and masks are three aspects of commonalities within both traditions. However, they also differ in some ways. Historically, most slaves, who arrived in Louisiana in the 18th century, were taken from the Senegambia and the Bight of Benin regions of West Africa. Researchers have established that traditional cultures from these two regions have influenced the cultures in Louisiana. This paper will, therefore, examine the practices of the Mardi Gras Indians and the Yoruba Egungun, and determine the diasporic connections between the two.