WGNO special: ‘Putting a Mardi Gras Spotlight on the Black Masking Indians of New Orleans’
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — This 2024 Mardi Gras year, WGNO is paying tribute to Black Masking Indians, who forever changed the culture of Mardi Gras and made New Orleans all the better because of it.
In 1976, one of the most important albums was recorded, in terms of New Orleans culture.
Members from the Meters, the Neville Brothers, as well as voices from black masking Indians from tribes across New Orleans, recorded “The Wild Tchoupitoulas” album. That album went on to eventually be added to the National Registry of the United States Library of Congress because of its cultural and artistic importance.
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That album was the essence of New Orleans’ Black Masking Indians. However, the story of Indian culture and its importance to New Orleans is much older and has its roots with indigenous America, enslaved Africans and the expressive customs of West Africa.
Join WGNO’s LBJ and Christopher Leach as they host a special program to pay tribute to a collection of culture bearers who are, perhaps, the most visual champions of New Orleans — the Black Masking Indians.
Join us as we walk through the storied origins of Indians, show you how an Indian suit is sewn, talk about the mission and music of one of the famous Wild Tchoupitoulas and ultimately search the city for the sound of a tambourine and the sight of brilliant plumage.
This is a WGNO special report: “Putting the Spotlight on the Black Masking Indian culture of New Orleans.”
Watch it on WGNO-TV at 6:30 p.m. or on WNOL at 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9.
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